title: Expression of serum Dickkopf-1 in gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression and clinical significance of DKK-1 protein in patients with gastric cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay was used to detect expressions of serum DKK-1 protein in 90 cases of gastric cancers, 50 cases of gastric benign disease and 40 healthy cases. The dynamic change in serum DKK-1 protein of gastric cancer patients who accepted radical operation for a month was also observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of serum DKK-1 protein in gastric cancer groups was significantly higher than that in gastric benign group's (P < 0.01) and in health control (P < 0.01). Serum DKK-1 level was increased gradually along with the progress of the disease. Serum DKK-1 levels were significantly higher in patients at TNM staging III and IV than patients at TNM staging I and II. Level of serum DKK-1 was related to microvascular invasion, differentiation degree and infiltration depth. Level of serum DKK-1 was significantly reduced in patients after radical surgery (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of serum DKK-1 protein in gastric cancer patients is increased. Level of serum DKK-1 is related to TNM staging, microvascular invasion, differentiation degree and infiltration depth. DKK-1 detection can be used as a reference index in monitoring gastric cancer progress and biological behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China. Electronic address: tanyan_cg@126.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 5700102, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
keywords: Dickkopf-1; ELISA; Gastric cancer