[Expression of Dickkopf-3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3) in esophageal cancer and normal esophageal tissue and the relationship between Dkk-3 expression and the biological behavior of esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical method of S-P was used to examine Dkk-3 expression in 69 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 5 cases of normal esophageal tissue with non-tumor tissue microarray and the results were analyzed and correlated with their clinical and pathological features.


RESULTS
Positive Dkk-3 expression was observed in 65.7% (44/67) of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases, but only one of the five cases with normal esophageal tissue showed positive microvascular expression of Dkk-3. In cases with positive expression of Dkk-3 significant differences were found in fiber membrane infiltration, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P < 0.05), while no significant differences were found in the age, gender and pathological grading (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The upregulation of Dkk-3 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may contribute to tumor invasion and metastasis.
Zhang
Yu
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Dong
Wei-guo
WG
Yang
Zi-rong
ZR
Lei
Xiao-fei
XF
Luo
He-sheng
HS
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018925:Chemokines; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018925:Chemokines; C498624:DKK3 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins