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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

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01-10-2016 | Original Article – Cancer Research

DCLK1 is up-regulated and associated with metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer

Authors: Tianbo Gao, Min Wang, Lingling Xu, Tao Wen, Jian Liu, Guangyu An

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 10/2016

Abstract

Purpose

Metastasis is a primary cause of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related death, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be majorly responsible for initiating metastatic behaviors. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) was recently discovered to be a marker for gastrointestinal CSCs. Here, we aimed to explore whether DCLK1 is associated with CRC metastasis through clinical and in vitro investigations.

Methods

The expression levels of DCLK1 mRNA and protein in human CRC tissues were analyzed through quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. Human CRC cell line SW480 was selected to explore the effect of DCLK1 overexpression on cell migration and invasion. Besides, the associations between DCLK1 and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) were determined.

Results

Compared to normal colorectal tissues, DCLK1 expression was significantly up-regulated in human CRC tissues and correlated well with high lymphatic metastasis and poor prognosis in patients. DCLK1 expression was inversely associated with overall survival in CRC patients. Overexpression of DCLK1 in SW480 cells markedly promoted cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, we validated that DCLK1 could facilitate EMT in cancer cells by up-regulation of the mesenchymal markers Vimentin and ZEB1 and down-regulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin in SW480 cells.

Conclusions

DCLK1 up-regulation may play a contributory role in CRC metastasis and poor prognosis via activation of EMT. DCLK1 may serve as an independent predictor for CRC prognosis.

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Title: DCLK1 is up-regulated and associated with metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Tianbo Gao
Min Wang
Lingling Xu
Tao Wen
Jian Liu
Guangyu An
Publication date: 01-10-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 10/2016
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2218-0

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