Dickkopf homolog 3 (DKK3): A candidate for detection and treatment of cancers?

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Leila Hamzehzadeh1, Michele Caraglia2, Stephen L Atkin3

  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Journal of Cellular Physiology
|December 6, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Dickkopf Homolog 3 (DKK3) plays a dual role in cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor or oncogene. DKK3 alterations and expression are linked to cancer cell proliferation, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Wnt signaling is a highly conserved pathway crucial for physiological processes.
  • Dickkopf Homolog (DKK) family members, including DKK3, are extracellular Wnt inhibitors.
  • DKK3 shows potential as a therapeutic target in human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological role of Dickkopf Homolog 3 (DKK3) in cancer.
  • To explore DKK3's function as a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) or oncogene.
  • To examine the correlation between DKK3 and microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of DKK3's biological functions in cancer.
  • Analysis of DKK3's association with various miRNAs.
  • Investigation of DKK3 gene polymorphisms and promoter methylation's impact on expression and cancer cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • DKK3 exhibits context-dependent roles, functioning as either a tumor suppressor gene or an oncogene.
  • DKK3 expression is linked to cancer cell proliferation.
  • Gene polymorphisms and promoter methylation of DKK3 influence its expression and role in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • DKK3's multifaceted role in cancer warrants further investigation.
  • DKK3's expression patterns and regulatory mechanisms are critical in cancer development.
  • DKK3 holds promise as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for various cancers.
Keywords:
Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3)Wnt pathwaybiomarkercancer therapeutics

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