SOX2 and cancer: These target genes include cancer stemness genes (e.g., sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9), fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), and SOX2) [26], cytokines, and their receptor genes (e.g., interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-1 receptor, type II (IL-1R2)) [25,29].