Increased Expression of Dickkopf-1 in Acral Lentiginous Melanoma.
- Author:
Yoon Hyuk CHOI
1
;
Seok Min KIM
;
Jun Young KIM
;
Man Hoon HAN
;
Seok Jong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea. seokjong@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Acral lentiginous melanoma;
Dickkopf-1;
Invasiveness;
Progression
- MeSH:
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Cytoplasm;
Gene Expression;
Humans;
Melanocytes;
Melanoma*;
Nevus;
Wnt Signaling Pathway
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2018;56(4):259-264
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), an inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway, is known as an inhibitor of melanocyte proliferation. In recent studies, the expression of DKK-1 gene is reduced in melanoma and they lose their preventive role during development or progression of melanoma. There are no available data regarding the changes in DKK-1 gene expression in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), which is common in Asians. OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in DKK-1 expression in the development or progression of ALM in Koreans. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining using DKK-1 antibody of 13 invasive ALM, six ALM in situ, nine acral nevi, and four benign non-related palmoplantar specimens as controls were evaluated by the semi-quantitative grading scale, which is divided into three distinctive grades according to the degree of cytoplasmic staining of DKK-1. RESULTS: Among the invasive ALM specimens, seven of 13 (53.8%) were graded as strongly positive (2+), and only one case (7.7%) was negative. In cases of ALM in situ, two specimens (33.3%) stained positive (1+) and the remaining four specimens (66.6%) were not stained. All specimens from both acral nevus and benign palmoplantar lesions, which were used as the control group, were also negative. CONCLUSION: In contrast with recent reports, DKK-1 expression showed a positive correlation with ALM progression or invasiveness. The role of DKK-1 as a potential predictor of ALM progression warrants further study.
