Dickkopf-related protein 1 expression in bone marrow of multiple myeloma patients: correlation with bone disease and plasma cell malignancy type.

Background: Previous studies have pointed out the role of dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK 1) - Wnt inhibitor, which is essential for osteoblast functioning, in the development of osteolytic lesions in multiple myeloma (MM).

Aim: To assess the DKK 1 expression displayed by myeloma cells in bone marrow trephine biopsies of patients with and without osteolytic lesions, and in different malignancy grades of the disease.

Methods: The expression level of DKK 1 was assessed immunohistochemically in bone marrow of 49 MM patients presented with and without osteolytic lesions (the 1 and the 2 group, respectively).

Results: Levels of weak, moderate, and strong DKK 1 expression were distributed - as 43.33, 27.78 and 25.56%, and 63.91, 18.80, and 1.50%, respectively when evaluating the samples obtained from the 1 and the 2 group. Statistically significant differences were found when the levels of DKK 1 expression in the 1 and the 2 group were compared (χ = 51; df = 3; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: DKK 1 contributes to the development of osteolytic lesions in MM. The present study provides morphological evidence that inhibition in Wnt signaling may lead to bone damage observed in the advanced stage of the disease.