The Essential Role of DCLK1 in Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Procedures and Prognostic Stratification of Colorectal Cancer

Anticancer Res. 2019 Jun;39(6):2689-2697. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.13394.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent type of cancer among males and the third among females. CRC recurrence and poor prognosis may be related to the prevalence of chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recent studies have indicated the role of doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) protein as a marker of CSC in CRC. This review focuses on the role of DCLK1 in CRC. Long-lived DCLK1-positive tuft cells can function as cancer-initiating cells. Numerous studies have shown DCLK1 overexpression to be significantly correlated with the stage of disease, the presence of metastasis and poor survival rate. DCLK1 may also be used to identify patients at high risk and those with chemotherapy-resistant tumors. DCLK1-specific drugs are examined as potential cancer treatments.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; DCLK1; cancer diagnostic factor; cancer prognostic factor; review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Doublecortin-Like Kinases
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • DCLK1 protein, human
  • Doublecortin-Like Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases