@article{10902/6220, year = {2015}, month = {3}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10902/6220}, abstract = {Sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) insurgence and progression depend on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Dickkopf (DKK)-1 is an extracellular inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling that also has undefined β-catenin-independent actions. Here we report for the first time that a proportion of DKK-1 locates within the nucleus of healthy small intestine and colon mucosa, and of CRC cells at specific chromatin sites of active transcription. Moreover, we show that DKK-1 regulates several cancer-related genes including the cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) and Ral-binding protein 1-associated Eps domain-containing 2 (REPS2), which are involved in detoxification of chemotherapeutic agents. Nuclear DKK-1 expression is lost along CRC progression; however, it remains high in a subset (15%) of CRC patients (n = 699) and associates with decreased progression-free survival (PFS) after chemotherapy administration and overall survival (OS) [adjusted HR, 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-2.21; P = 0.002)]. Overexpression of ALDH1A1 and REPS2 associates with nuclear DKK-1 expression in tumors and correlates with decreased OS (P = 0.001 and 0.014) and PFS. In summary, our findings demonstrate a novel location of DKK-1 within the cell nucleus and support a role of nuclear DKK-1 as a predictive biomarker of chemoresistance in colorectal cancer.}, publisher = {Impact Journals}, publisher = {Oncotarget. 2015 Mar 20;6(8):5903-17}, title = {Nuclear DICKKOPF-1 as a biomarker of chemoresistance and poor clinical outcome in colorectal cancer}, author = {Aguilera, Óscar and González Sancho, José Manuel and Zazo Hernández, Sandra and Rincón, Raúl and Fernández Fernández, Agustín and Tapia Martínez, Olga and Canals, Francesc and Morte Molina, Beatriz and Calvanese, Vincenzo and Orgaz Bueno, José Luis and Niell Garolera, Núria and Aguilar, Susana and Freije, José M. and Graña, Osvaldo and Pisano, David G. and Borrero Palacios, Aurea and Martínez Useros, Javier and Jiménez Cuenca, Benilde and Fernández Fraga, Mario and García Foncillas, Jesús and López Otín, Carlos and Lafarga Coscojuela, Miguel Ángel and Rojo, Federico and Muñoz Terol, Alberto}, }