title: DAP1 high expression increases risk of lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
abstract: Death-associated protein 1 (DAP1) is a member of the DAP family. Its expression is associated with cell growth and normal death of the neoplastic cells, regulated by the mammalian target of the rapamycin protein. Activated DAP1 negatively regulates autophagy, which has been associated with the development and progression of several diseases, such as cancer, and with prognosis and survival of diverse tumor types. Therefore, in this study we analyzed DAP1 expression in 54 oral squamous cell carcinoma tumor samples and in 20 non-tumoral margins by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that DAP1 is more frequently expressed in tumor tissues compared with marginal non-tumoral cells. Additionally, high DAP1 expression is associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of lymph node metastases. Our results suggest that the DAP1 protein can be used as a potential marker of lymph node metastases predisposition, helping define the best therapy for each patient to minimize risk of developing metastases.
authors.affiliation: Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Caicó, RN, Brasil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: C V M
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Peterle
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Heliópolis, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: A M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mercante
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Heliópolis, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Tajara
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Louro
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: A M A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva-Conforti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C091572:DAP protein, human