D Fink

Publications (2)4.37 Total impact

• Article: Elevated procaspase levels in human melanoma.

  D Fink, H Schlagbauer-Wadl, E Selzer, T Lucas, K Wolff, H Pehamberger, H G Eichler, B Jansen
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  ABSTRACT: In this study procaspase expression levels were investigated by Western blotting in a panel of established melanoma cell lines, transformed melanocytic cell lines and normal primary melanocytes. Upstream caspases such as procaspase-8 that contain a death effector domain were found to be overexpressed in transformed melanocytes and melanoma cell lines compared with melanocytes. Heterogeneous levels of procaspase-8 were seen in melanoma cells, including one cell line that completely lacked procaspase-8 expression. Procaspase-10 is generally overexpressed in transformed melanocytes and melanoma cell lines. Expression of the downstream procaspases-3 and -7 was increased in melanoma cells compared with normal melanocytes. Procaspases containing caspase recruitment domains such as procaspase-2 were expressed at similar levels in nearly all the cell lines investigated. Reduced levels of procaspase-1 compared with normal melanocytes were detected in transformed melanocytes and melanoma cell lines. These data indicate that procaspase levels in general increase during the malignant transformation of melanocytic cells.
  Melanoma Research 09/2001; 11(4):385-93. · 2.19 Impact Factor
• Article: Differential expression levels of Par-4 in melanoma.

  T Lucas, B Pratscher, S Krishnan, D Fink, P Günsberg, M Wolschek, V Wacheck, T Muster, I Romirer, K Wolff, H Pehamberger, H G Eichler, V M Rangnekar, B Jansen
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  ABSTRACT: The pro-apoptotic prostate apoptosis response-4 gene product Par-4 sensitizes prostate cells to the induction of programmed cell death. In this study we examined Par-4 expression in human melanoma cell lines and melanoma metastases. The heterogeneous expression detected prompted us to investigate the biological relevance of Par-4 in a human melanoma xenotransplantation model. Overexpression of Par-4 by transfection decreased tumour development in xenotransplanted A375-C6 melanoma cells in SCID mice and correlated to an increase in tumour cell apoptosis. These data suggest that high expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 could qualify as a prognostic marker in human melanoma.
  Melanoma Research 09/2001; 11(4):379-83. · 2.19 Impact Factor