DeCaprio Lab - Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Polyomavirus, Cell Cycle Research
  • Home
    • Lab News & Highlights
  • Research
    • Merkel cell carcinoma
    • The DREAM complex/Cell cycle
  • People
    • ​James A. DeCaprio, MD
    • Lab Members
    • Alumni
    • Division of Molecular & Cellular Oncology
  • Publications
  • Resources
  • Support Us
  • Contact Us

The role of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma

Given our laboratory’s experience in studying polyomavirus mediated transformation, we initiated studies of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) LT and ST. We determined that MCPyV ST specifically recruits MYCL to the EP400 complex and transactivates a large number of downstream target genes. Importantly, there are several druggable downstream targets of the ST-MYCL-EP400 complex including MDM2 and LSD1 (KDM1A). We have generated a mouse knock-in model capable of tissue specific expression of MCC tumor-derived MCPyV truncated LT and intact ST and demonstrated their oncogenic potential in vivo.
  1. Cheng J, Park EP, Berrios C, White EA, Arora R, Yoon R, Branigan T, Xiao T, Westerling T, Federation A, Zeid R, Strober B, Swanson SK, Florens L, Bradner JE, Brown M, Howley PM, Padi M, Washburn MP, DeCaprio JA. Merkel cell polyomavirus recruits MYCL to the EP400 complex to promote oncogenesis. PLOS Pathogens 2017 Oct 13;13(10):e1006668. PMCID: PMC5640240
  2. Park DE, Cheng J, Berrios C, Montero J, Cortés-Cros M, Ferretti S, Arora R, Tillgren ML, Gokhale PC and DeCaprio JA. Dual inhibition of MDM2 and MDM4 in virus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma enhances the p53 response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Jan 15;116(3):1027-1032. PMCID: PMC6338866
  3. Starrett GJ, Thakuria M, Chen T, Marcelus C, Cheng J, Nomburg J, Thorner AR, Slevin MK, Powers W, Robert T. Burns RT, Perry C, Piris A, Kuo FC, Rabinowits G, Giobbie-Hurder A, MacConaill LE, DeCaprio JA. Clinical and molecular characterization of virus-positive and virus-negative Merkel cell carcinoma. Genome Med. 2020 Mar 18;12(1):30. PMCID: PMC7081548
  4. Park DE, Cheng J, McGrath JP, Lim MY, Cushman C, Swanson SK, Tillgren ML, Paulo JA, Gokhale PC, Florens L, Washburn MP, Trojer P, DeCaprio JA. Merkel cell polyomavirus activates LSD1-mediated blockade of non-canonical BAF to regulate transformation and tumorigenesis. Nat Cell Biol 2020 May;22(5):603-615. PMCID: PMC7336275
 HOME | RESEARCH | PEOPLE | PUBLICATIONS | RESOURCES | SUPPORT US | CONTACT

©2020 DeCaprio Lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Home
    • Lab News & Highlights
  • Research
    • Merkel cell carcinoma
    • The DREAM complex/Cell cycle
  • People
    • ​James A. DeCaprio, MD
    • Lab Members
    • Alumni
    • Division of Molecular & Cellular Oncology
  • Publications
  • Resources
  • Support Us
  • Contact Us