Elevated <em>DKK1</em> expression is an independent unfavorable prognostic indicator of survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The study analyzed data from 520 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and found that elevated DKK1 expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival, making it an independent unfavorable prognostic indicator. DKK1 expression was higher in HNSCC tissues compared to normal tissues and correlated with smoking, alcohol consumption, and advanced tumor stages. A negative correlation between DKK1 expression and promoter methylation suggested that DNA methylation might regulate DKK1 expression. The study concluded that DKK1 could serve as a potential biomarker for HNSCC prognosis, though further research with larger sample sizes was needed to confirm these findings.