Methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer

A method for prognosis of survivability of a subject having a skin cancer comprising detecting an expression level of DUSP1 in the subject and comparing the expression level of DUSP1 to an expression level index of DUSP1 predetermined to correlate with survivability.

A method of treating a skin cancer comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of DUSP1 or an active fragment thereof, a nucleic acid that encodes a protein comprising DUSP1 or an active fragment, an analog or a prodrug thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition for treating a skin cancer comprising a DUSP1 or an active fragment thereof, a nucleic acid that encodes a protein comprising DUSP1 or an active fragment, an analog or a prodrug thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

A kit comprising a reagent for detection of DUSP1 expression level, a compilation comprising DUSP1 expression level indices that have been predetermined to correlate with the presence or absence of skin cancer, assay components and components for collection of a sample.

A kit comprising a reagent for detection of DUSP1 expression level, a compilation comprising DUSP1 expression level indices that have been predetermined to correlate with cancer survivability, assay components and components for collection of a sample.