title: Elevated levels of Dickkopf-1 are associated with β-catenin accumulation and poor prognosis in patients with chondrosarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling implicated in tumorigenesis. However, the biological role of DKK1 and β-catenin involved in chondrosarcoma has not been sufficiently investigated. This study was designed to investigate the expression profiles of DKK1 and β-catenin, and to clarify their clinical values in chondrosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mRNA and protein levels of DKK1 and β-catenin in fresh chondrosarcoma and the corresponding non-tumor tissues were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The protein expression patterns of DKK1 and β-catenin were investigated by immunohistochemistry. The associations among DKK1 level, β-catenin accumulation, clinicopathological factors and the overall survival were separately evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both DKK1 and β-catenin levels were remarkably elevated in chondrosarcoma compared with the corresponding non-tumor tissues. High DKK1 level and positive β-catenin accumulation in chondrosarcoma specimens were 58.7% and 53.9%, respectively. Elevated DKK1 level significantly correlated with positive β-catenin accumulation, and they were remarkably associated with histological grade and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society stage. Furthermore, DKK1 level and β-catenin accumulation had significant impacts on the prognosis of chondrosarcoma patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that DKK1 level was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated DKK1 levels associated with β-catenin accumulation play a crucial role in chondrosarcoma. DKK1 can serve as a novel predictor of poor prognosis in patients with chondrosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Changbao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xinlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin