SEC62 oncogene located at chromosomal region 3q26 encodes for a transmembrane protein
of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is expressed at high levels in numerous human malignancies. SEC62 overexpression has been associated with worse prognosis and high risk for lymphatic
and distant metastases in head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, hepatocellular cancer, and lung
cancer. However, its role in the development and tumor biology of melanocytic lesions has not
been investigated so far. An immunohistochemical study including 209 patients with melanocytic
lesions (malignant melanoma (MM), n = 93; melanoma metastases (MET), n = 28; Spitz nevi (SN),
n = 29; blue nevi (BN), n = 21; congenital nevi (CN), n = 38) was conducted and SEC62 expression
was correlated with clinical data including patient survival and histopathological characteristics.
SN showed the highest SEC62 expression levels followed by MET, MM, CN, and BN. High SEC62
expression correlated with a shorter overall and progression-free survival in MM patients. Additionally, high Sec62 levels correlated significantly with higher tumor size (T stage), the presence of
tumor ulceration, and the presence of lymph node as well as distant metastases. Strikingly, SEC62
expression showed a strong correlation with Clark level. Taken together, these data demonstrate that
SEC62 is a promising prognostic marker in MM and has the potential to predict biological behavior
and clinical aggressiveness of melanocytic lesions