SOX11 is a transcription factor found at chromosome 2p25.2, and is known to function in the development of the neural system.  It is known to be expressed in normal adult squamous cells, certain lymphomas, and some ovarian carcinomas.

Interestingly, SOX11 has been found to be expressed in most cases of mantle cell lymphoma (78-100%) including mantle cell lymphomas (MCL), which are negative for cyclin D1 and t(11;14).  Important caveats: (1) specificity of the antibody (and its clones) is still being evaluated, and (2) the MRQ-58 clone has shown relatively better specificity compared to some of the other clones.  Burkitt lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma cases not uncommonly express (frequency is dependent upon clone used) SOX11.  Occasional cases of other types of lymphoma have also been rarely found to have SOX11 expression.

 

Overall, SOX11 appears to one of the best IHC options to support the idangosis of cyclin D1 and t(11;14) negative MCL, but the antibody specificity is not perfect.  One should understand the context of when to use the antibody, it’s performance characteristics, and the patterns of expression for the chosen clone in clinical use.

References:

Nakashima MO, Durkin L, Bodo J, Lin J, Quintanilla-Martinez L, et al. (2014) Utility and diagnostic pitfalls of SOX11 monoclonal antibodies in mantle cell lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 22: 720–727. doi:10.1097/PAI.0000000000000067.

 

Soldini D, Valera A, Solé C, Palomero J, Amador V, et al. (2014) Assessment of SOX11 Expression in Routine Lymphoma Tissue Sections: Characterization of New Monoclonal Antibodies for Diagnosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Am J Surg Pathol 38: 86–93. doi:10.1097/PAS.0b013e3182a43996.