[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.