title: DCLK1 is up-regulated and associated with metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors: Tianbo
authors: T
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors: Lingling
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Medical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Wen
authors: Medical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China. liujian2004811@126.com.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China. anguangyu@hotmail.com.
authors: Guangyu
authors: G
authors: An
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000089742:Doublecortin-Like Kinases; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011379:Prognosis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C117347:DCLK1 protein, human; D000089742:Doublecortin-Like Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: Colorectal cancer; DCLK1; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Metastasis; Prognosis