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Prognostic significance of dickkopf-1 overexpression in solid tumors: a meta-analysis

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The prognostic significance of dickkopf-1 (DKK1) overexpression in solid tumors remains inconclusive. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of DKK1 overexpression in solid tumors on patients' overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) was used to estimate the effects. Thirteen studies were included for meta-analysis; four that evaluated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), two each that evaluated ovarian carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, and lung cancer, and one each that evaluated other cancers, namely gastric cancer, breast cancer, urothelial carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Twelve studies were evaluable for OS and six for DFS. Our analysis results indicated that DKK1 overexpression predicted poor OS (HR = 1.68, 95 % CI 1.36–2.08; P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.65, 95 % CI 1.37–1.99; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that DKK1 overexpression was significantly related with poor OS in HCC patients (HR = 1.65; P < 0.001), ovarian carcinoma patients (HR = 2.63; P = 0.045), and other cancers patients (HR = 1.51; P = 0.021). Further, DKK1 overexpression was significantly related with poor DFS in HCC patients (HR = 1.53; P < 0.001) and other cancers patients (HR = 2.02; P < 0.001). This meta-analysis showed that DKK1 may be a novel prognostic marker in solid tumors in Asian patients; it could potentially help to further stratify patients for clinical treatment. More, well-designed studies from Western countries are needed to confirm this finding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

    Yanqiong Liu, Li Xie, Jian Wang, Yan Deng, Qiliu Peng, Limin Zhai, Shan Li & Xue Qin

  2. Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

    Weizhong Tang

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  1. Yanqiong Liu
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  2. Weizhong Tang
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  3. Li Xie
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  4. Jian Wang
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  5. Yan Deng
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  6. Qiliu Peng
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  7. Limin Zhai
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  8. Shan Li
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Correspondence to Shan Li or Xue Qin.

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Yanqiong Liu and Weizhong Tang contributed equally to this study and should be considered as co-first authors.

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Liu, Y., Tang, W., Xie, L. et al. Prognostic significance of dickkopf-1 overexpression in solid tumors: a meta-analysis. Tumor Biol. 35, 3145–3154 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1411-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-1411-x

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