Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
Published on: March 26, 2018
Role of prognostic gene DKK1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Yujiao Liu1,2, Congcong Wei2, Song Wang2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Shandong University and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, Shandong 250000, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The morbidity and mortality rates of OSCC have increased in recent years. However, the pathogenesis of this disease remains unknown. The present study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OSCC. Bioinformatics screening of differentially expressed genes in OSCC was performed based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) was identified to be associated with survival, tumor immunity and DNA repair in OSCC. Furthermore, the effects of DKK1 were evaluated by the knockdown of DKK1 in two OSCC cell lines. The proliferation, clonogenicity, migration and invasion of the cells were assessed in vitro using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively, and were found to be inhibited by DKK1 knockdown. The present study suggests that DKK1 may be used in the prognosis of patients with OSCC and that targeting DKK1 is a potential strategy for OSCC therapy.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Abnormal Proliferation
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...

