Expression of the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-3 is associated with prognostic clinicopathologic characteristics and impairs proliferation and invasion in endometrial cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Emerging evidence implicates the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3) as a tumor suppressor and potential biomarker in solid tumors. We investigated whether Dkk3 plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods

We analyzed Dkk3 mRNA expression via real-time RT-PCR in twenty-seven human primary EC tissues, and six matched normal endometrial controls. Dkk3 levels were correlated with various clinicopathologic characteristics. Additionally, enforced Dkk3 expression was examined in proliferation and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo, using MTT, soft agar assay, invasion assay, a xenograft mouse model, and a β-catenin-responsive SuperTopFlash luciferase assay.

Results

Compared with matched normal endometrial cases, Dkk3 was down-regu

SUBMITTER: Dellinger TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3688285 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature