Serum Dickkopf-1 as a diagnostic & prognostic marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the second leading reason of cancer-associated deaths around the world.The poor outcome of patients with HCC is attributed to late detection, with more than two-thirds of patients diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease. However, a considerable improvement in survival has been observed (5-year survival up from 40% to 70%) when patients are diagnosed at an early stage and receive potentially curative therapy in the form of liver transplantation, surgical resection, or tumor ablation. Objective Evaluate levels of serum Dickkopf-1, & its significance as a diagnostic & prognostic marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Aim of the work assess the possible diagnostic role of serum DKK1 compared to alpha- fetoprotein which is the slandered marker used for diagnosis of HCC.also DKK1 act as prognostic marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pateints and Methodes This study had been carried out on 45 subjects diveded into 2 groups,first group include 30 pateints with liver cirrhosis,and second group 15 pateints with HCC.In this group of patients DKK1 was withdrawn before TACE & 3 months post intervention, age range 25-73 year selected from Internal medicine and Hepatology outpatient clinics and inpatient wards at Ain shams university hospitals from March 2019 till January 2020.They were distributed as 25 males and 20 females. There were 13 pateints with child A,17 pateints with child B, & 15 pateints (20%) with child C. Results In this study, the serum levels of serum DKK1 were highest in patients with HCC compared to those with liver cirrhosis. Also DKK1 values significally decreased after intervention(TACE). Conclusion Serum DKK1 act as a diagnostic marker for HCC and its level significally decrease after TACE