DEK modulates both expression and alternative splicing of cancer‑related genes

DEK is known to be a potential proto‑oncogene and is highly expressed in gastric cancer (GC); thus, DEK is considered to contribute to the malignant progression of GC. DEK is an RNA‑binding protein involved in transcription, DNA repair, and selection of splicing sites during mRNA processing; however, its precise function remains elusive due to the lack of clarification of the overall profiles of gene transcription and post‑transcriptional splicing that are regulated by DEK. We performed our original whole‑genomic RNA‑Seq data to analyze the global transcription and alternative splicing profiles in a human GC cell line by comparing DEK siRNA‑treated and control conditions, dissecting both differential gene expression and potential alternative splicing events regulated by DEK. The siRNA‑mediated knockdown of DEK in a GC cell line led to significant changes in gene expression of multiple cancer‑related genes including both oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Moreover, it was revealed that DEK regulated a number of alternative splicing in genes which were significantly enriched in various cancer‑related pathways including apoptosis and cell cycle processes. This study clarified for the first time that DEK has a regulatory effect on the alternative splicing, as well as on the expression, of numerous cancer‑related genes, which is consistent with the role of DEK as a possible oncogene. Our results further expand the importance and feasibility of DEK as a clinical therapeutic target for human malignancies including GC.