title: A review on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with a focus on the role of Wnts and the dickkopf family of Wnt inhibitors.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. There are multiple etiologic factors including viral and environmental influences that can lead to HCC. Successful screening for early HCC is challenging due to the lack of well characterized and specific biomarkers. However, achieving successful screening is critically important as early diagnosis can potentially provide curative opportunities. Once HCC is advanced, there are multiple therapeutic venues, but most eventually fail, therefore developing new targeted therapies may provide greater chance for effective therapies. Along these lines, the Wnt pathway has been identified as contributing to the development and progression of HCC. Wnts can modify HCC growth and invasive ability. A key factor in the Wnt pathway is the dickkopf (DKK) family of Wnt inhibitors. DKKs have also been shown to modulate HCC progression. Additionally, several studies have suggested that DKK expression in tissue and serum has diagnostic and prognostic value.
authors: Key Laboratory of Longevity and Ageing-Related Diseases, Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China; Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors: Junlin
authors: J
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Jill M
authors: JM
authors: Keller
authors: Key Laboratory of Longevity and Ageing-Related Diseases, Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China; Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory of Longevity and Ageing-Related Diseases, Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China; Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China; Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Evan T
authors: ET
authors: Keller
keywords: DKK; beta-catenin; biomarker; hepatoma; morphogen