SOX2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of CD133, CD44, Nanog, Sox2, and Oct4 in HCC stem cells were markedly reduced in the sh-HOXA11-AS group compared with the sh-NC group, as determined by RT-qPCR and western blot analyses (p < 0.05) (Fig. 2b, d).