Expression of DKK1 and β-catenin in epidermal neoplasms and their correlation.

Objective: To investigate the expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and β-catenin and their correlation in epidermal neoplasms.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the expression of DKK1 and β-catenin in tissue samples of 19 cases of seborrheic keratosis (SK), 16 cases of actinic keratosis (AK), 24 cases of Bowen's disease (BD), 25 cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 22 cases of normal epidermal tissue (NET).

Results: DKK1 was expressed in cytoplasm in normal epidermis. The positive expression rates of DKK1 in SK, AK, BD and SCC were 63.16%, 50.00%, 12.50% and 8.00%, respectively. β-catenin was expressed in cell membrane in normal epidermis. The abnormal expression rates of β-catenin in SK, AK, BD and SCC were 15.79%, 56.25%, 91.67% and 96.00%, respectively. Additionally, significant negative correlation was observable between the expression of β-catenin and DKK1 (r=-0.692, P=0.000).

Conclusion: The Wnt signaling pathway may play an important role in the process of epidermal neoplasms formation. The loss of DKK1 promotes the abnormal expression of β-catenin through Wnt signaling pathway.