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. 2016 Jul 28;11(7):e0160077. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160077

Fig 2. Loss of DKK3 protein expression in human breast cancer.

Fig 2

(A) Normal mammary epithelial cells showing moderate, predominantly cytoplasmic, DKK3 immunoreactivity whereas (B) primary antibody negative control is free of signal. (C-E) Weak DKK3 protein expression is observed in breast tumor samples, with lowest intensity in IHC-defined (C) TNBC cases compared to (D) HER2-positive and (E) luminal carcinomas (representative images). (F) Box plot analysis demonstrating a significant down-regulation of DKK3 in tumors of the TNBC (n = 54), the HER2-positive (n = 47) and luminal subtype (n = 362) compared to normal breast tissues (n = 11). Horizontal lines: grouped medians. Boxes: 25-75% quartiles. Vertical lines: range, minimum and maximum. * P < 0.05, *** P < 0.001, IRS: immunoreactive score.