SLC26A2 gene expression levels in melanoma

Abstract

Abstract Background A recent repurposing pharmacological screening revealed that vanadium-containing drugs anti-proliferative action in ovarian cancer cells was SLC26A2-dependent. SLC26A2/DTDST is a sulfate transporter, related to chondrodysplasia syndromes. Despite some reports on colon cancer, there are no studies on SLC26A2 performed in melanoma in the literature. Methods To better understand its potential use as biomarker for therapeutic decisions in melanoma, we performed gene expression analyses of the data available at GEO profiles (NCBI). Gene data sets that allowed analysis of SLC26A2 expression (1) in melanoma; (2) in response to drugs; (3) regulated by other proteins, were selected. Results Our results showed that, compared to normal skin or benign nevi, SLC26A2 expression was 2.5-fold higher in malignant melanoma (P = 0.019). Compared to the primary tumor, SLC26A2 expression tripled in melanoma (P = 0.022). We found a 6% decrease of SLC26A2 expression in A375 melanoma cells treated with BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib (P < 0.001). After treatment of A375 cells with MLN4924, a selective inhibitor of the activating enzyme of Nedd8, SLC26A2 decreased in a time-dependent manner ( > 80% at 24 h; P < 0.001). In Sk-Mel-2 cells overexpressing E2F-1, a transcription factor that induces apoptosis in cancer cells, SLC26A2 levels were reduced by 76.4% (P = 0.067). In A375P cells depleted of PGC1α, an important metabolic co-activator in mitochondrial biogenesis and function, SLC26A2 levels increased 16% (P = 0.013). Conclusions From this work, we unveiled, for the first time, potential clues to better understand the regulation and role of SLC26A2 in melanoma. Though, it is still to be determined whether SLC26A2 is a driver or a passenger in the disease.