Dual Specificity Phosphatase 26 (DUSP26)

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal of all human tumors, but cytogenetic information concerning ATC is extremely limited. DUSP26 was overexpressed in ATC cell lines and primary ATC tumor samples. When overexpressed, either exogenously or endogenously, DUSP26 promoted growth of the ATC cells. DUSP26 encodes a protein containing a dual-specificity phosphatase domain that can dephosphorylate itself. DUSP26 effectively dephosphorylates p38 and has a little effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase in ATC cells. DUSP26 protein formed a physical complex with p38, and promoted survival of ATC cells by inhibiting p38-mediated apoptosis. DUSP26 may act as an oncogene in ATC, and might be a useful diagnostic marker and therapeutic target of this disease.