title: Downregulation of serum DKK-1 predicts poor prognosis in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.
abstract: The Wnt inhibitor dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) has been shown to be closely correlated with tumor initiation and progression in various types of cancers. However, the serum level of DKK-1 in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and its potential clinical significance is poorly understood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the level of serum DKK-1 in patients with PTC (N = 132) and healthy controls (N = 40). The association between serum DKK-1 level and clinicopathological parameters of PTC was examined and independent prognostic markers for PTC were identified. The mean serum DKK-1 level was significantly lower in patients with PTC than healthy controls (44.64 ± 15.13 and 85.51 ± 9.94 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.01). Following treatment, the mean serum DKK-1 level in PTC patients significantly increased (67.03 ± 17.09 ng/mL; P < 0.01). Serum DKK-1 level was associated with various PTC clinical features including tumor size (P = 0.003), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), and tumor-node-metastasis stage (P = 0.004). Survival analysis revealed that PTC patients who had lower serum DKK-1 levels suffered both poorer overall survival (P = 0.036) and relapse-free survival (P = 0.015). Moreover, serum DKK-1 levels were an independent risk factor for predicting the prognosis of PTC (P = 0.031). In conclusion, low DKK-1 serum levels are associated with poor prognosis in PTC patients and DKK-1 could potentially be used as a biomarker leading to earlier diagnosis of PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Research Service Office, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Ulumqi, China.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins