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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: January 5, 2017
Prognostic significance of Dickkopf-1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Kai Chen1,2,3, Jin Li2, Yanfeng Ouyang1
1Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Background:
Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) exhibits abnormal expression in various cancers and correlates with poor prognosis. This study investigates DKK1's prognostic relevance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC).
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive search across literature and sequencing databases to gather eligible studies and HNSC datasets. We calculated pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for clinical characteristics, as well as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs for overall survival (OS) and progression-free/disease-free survival (PFS/DFS). Sensitivity analysis gauged result stability, and Egger's test assessed publication bias.
Results:
Pooled results indicated that HNSC patients with higher T-stage exhibited elevated DKK1 expression levels, and this elevated expression was associated with shorter OS and PFS/DFS. While sensitivity analysis identified some studies significantly affecting pooled results, most were unaffected, and no publication bias was detected.
Conclusion:
DKK1 holds promise as a potential biomarker for predicting poor prognosis in HNSC patients, but further research is needed for confirmation.
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