ABSTRACT
@#[Abstract] Objective: To explore the expression and regulation mechanism of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues. Methods: Based on the TCGA database, the relationship of DKK1 expression in HNSCC tissues and its methylation site with patients’prognosis was analyzed. GO and KEGG gene enrichment method were used to analyze the signaling pathways of DKK1 enrichment. STRING was used to analyze the interaction between DKK1 protein and other proteins. TargetScan was used to analyze the miRNAs that regulate the expression of DKK1, and the transcription factors of DKK1 were analyzed with the TRRUST website. Results: DKK1 gene was highly expressed in HNSCC tissues (P<0.01), and its expression level was significantly correlated with the HPV status, age, pathological grade, and clinical stage of patients (all P<0.05); the prognosis of HNSCC patients with high DKK1 expression was poorer than those with low DKK1 expression (P<0.01). There were 19 methylation sites in DKK1, 12 of which were significantly different between cancer tissues and normal tissues (P<0.05), and 11 sites were significantly related to the prognosis of HNSCC (P<0.05). In addition, miRNA, circRNA, lincRNA and transcription factors, etc. also participated in the regulation of DKK1. A total of 5 DKK1-related PPI networks that may involve in the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of HNSCC were obtained. Conclusion: DKK1 is highly expressed in HNSCC tissues and is a risk factor for poor prognosis of HNSCC patients. DKK1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC and is expected to become a potential target for HNSCC treatment.