Background and Aims: In the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), response prediction to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) based on serum biomarkers is not established. We have studied the association of circulating Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) with baseline characteristics and response to TACE in European HCC patients. Methods: Patients with HCC treated with TACE from 2010 to 2018 at a tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Levels of DKK-1 were measured in serum samples collected before TACE. Response was assessed according to mRECIST criteria at week 12 after TACE. Results: Ninety-seven patients were enrolled, including seventy-nine responders and eighteen refractory. Before TACE, median DKK-1 serum levels were 922 [range, 199−4514] pg/mL. DKK-1 levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis (p = 0.002) and showed a strong correlation with total radiologic tumor size (r = 0.593; p < 0.001) and with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages (p = 0.032). Median DKK-1 levels were significantly higher in refractory patients as compared to responders (1471 pg/mL [range, 546−2492 pg/mL] versus 837 pg/mL [range, 199−4515 pg/mL]; p < 0.001), and DKK-1 could better identify responders than AFP (AUC = 0.798 vs. AUC = 0.679; p < 0.001). A DKK-1 cutoff of ≤1150 pg/mL was defined to identify responders to TACE with a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 77%. DKK-1 levels were suitable to determine response to TACE in patients with low AFP serum levels (AFP levels < 20 ng/mL; AUC = 0.843; 95% CI [0.721−0.965]; p = 0.003). Conclusion: DKK-1 levels in serum are strongly associated tumor size and with response to TACE in European HCC patients, including those patients with low AFP levels.
Keywords: AFP; DKK-1; HCC; personalized treatment; treatment response.