title: DEK oncogene is overexpressed during melanoma progression.
abstract: DEK is an oncoprotein involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as DNA repair, replication, and transcriptional control. DEK is preferentially expressed in actively proliferating and malignant cells, including melanoma cell lines in which DEK was previously demonstrated to play a critical role in proliferation and chemoresistance. Still, the impact of this protein in melanoma progression remains unclear. Thus, we performed a comprehensive analysis of DEK expression in different melanocytic tumors. The immunostaining results of 303 tumors demonstrated negligible DEK expression in benign lesions. Conversely, malignant lesions, particularly in metastatic cases, were largely positive for DEK expression, which was partially associated with genomic amplification. Importantly, DEK overexpression was correlated with histological features of aggressiveness in primary tumors and poor prognosis in melanoma patients. In conclusion, our study provides new insight into the involvement of DEK in melanoma progression, as well as proof of concept for its potential application as a marker and therapeutic target of melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riveiro-Falkenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: García-Martín
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit (CIBERESP), Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lora
authors.affiliation: Melanoma Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Metehan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cifdaloz
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cytogenetics Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acquadro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballestín
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Romero
authors.affiliation: Melanoma Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soengas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto i+12, Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Peralto
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C084738:DEK protein, human; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
keywords: 
  DEK
  ; melanoma; oncogene; overexpression; progression