Our current study suggested that gene mutation, abnormal gene expression, and altered DNA methylation profiles associated with the Wnt signaling may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis, and DKK2 gene may act as a tumor suppressor in gastric cells.
Genetic or antibody-mediated ablation of DKK2 activates natural killer (NK) cells and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells in tumors, impedes tumor progression, and enhances the effects of PD-1 blockade.
Thus, our findings demonstrate that DKK2 functions as a tumor suppressor through inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis via regulating Wnt signaling during breast tumorigenesis.
Methylation of Wnt signaling regulators (SFRP1, 2, 4 and 5, DACT2, DKK2 and DKK3) was frequently detected in tumor and nasal swab samples from NPC patients.
This revealed an association between reduced Dickkopf 2 (DKK2-a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway) expression and loss of tumour patterning.