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An J, Hu X, Liu F. Current understanding of cancer stem cells: Immune evasion and targeted immunotherapy in gastrointestinal malignancies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114621. [PMID: 36910604 PMCID: PMC9996315 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
As a relatively rare population of cancer cells existing in the tumor microenvironment, cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess properties of immune privilege to evade the attack of immune system, regulated by the microenvironment of CSCs, the so-called CSCs niche. The bidirectional interaction of CSCs with tumor microenvironment (TME) components favors an immunosuppressive shelter for CSCs' survival and maintenance. Gastrointestinal cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are broadly regarded to be intimately involved in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence, with elevated tumor resistance to conventional therapies, which pose a major hindrance to the clinical efficacy for treated patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Thus, a multitude of efforts have been made to combat and eradicate GCSCs within the tumor mass. Among diverse methods of targeting CSCs in gastrointestinal malignancies, immunotherapy represents a promising strategy. And the better understanding of GCSCs immunomodulation and immunoresistance mechanisms is beneficial to guide and design novel GCSCs-specific immunotherapies with enhanced immune response and clinical efficacy. In this review, we have gathered available and updated information to present an overview of the immunoevasion features harbored by cancer stem cells, and we focus on the description of immune escape strategies utilized by CSCs and microenvironmental regulations underlying CSCs immuno-suppression in the context of gastrointestinal malignancies. Importantly, this review offers deep insights into recent advances of CSC-targeting immunotherapeutic approaches in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi An
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohua Hu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Chhetri D, Vengadassalapathy S, Venkadassalapathy S, Balachandran V, Umapathy VR, Veeraraghavan VP, Jayaraman S, Patil S, Iyaswamy A, Palaniyandi K, Gnanasampanthapandian D. Pleiotropic effects of DCLK1 in cancer and cancer stem cells. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:965730. [PMID: 36250024 PMCID: PMC9560780 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.965730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), a protein molecule, has been identified as a tumor stem cell marker in the cancer cells of gastrointestinal, pancreas, and human colon. DCLK1 expression in cancers, such as breast carcinoma, lung carcinoma, hepatic cell carcinoma, tuft cells, and human cholangiocarcinoma, has shown a way to target the DCLK1 gene and downregulate its expression. Several studies have discussed the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation along with neoplastic cell arrest when the DCLK1 gene, which is expressed in both cancer and normal cells, was targeted successfully. In addition, previous studies have shown that DCLK1 plays a vital role in various cancer metastases. The correlation of DCLK1 with numerous stem cell receptors, signaling pathways, and genes suggests its direct or an indirect role in promoting tumorigenesis. Moreover, the impact of DCLK1 was found to be related to the functioning of an oncogene. The downregulation of DCLK1 expression by using targeted strategies, such as embracing the use of siRNA, miRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, nanomolecules, specific monoclonal antibodies, and silencing the pathways regulated by DCLK1, has shown promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. In this review, we will discuss about the present understanding of DCLK1 and its role in the progression of GI cancer and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dibyashree Chhetri
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Srinivasan Vengadassalapathy
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India
| | | | - Varadharaju Balachandran
- Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Vidhya Rekha Umapathy
- Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India
| | - Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan
- Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Selvaraj Jayaraman
- Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Shankargouda Patil
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, UT, United States
| | - Ashok Iyaswamy
- Centre for Parkinsons Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kanagaraj Palaniyandi
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
- *Correspondence: Kanagaraj Palaniyandi, ; Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian,
| | - Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian
- Cancer Science Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
- *Correspondence: Kanagaraj Palaniyandi, ; Dhanavathy Gnanasampanthapandian,
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Kalantari E, Razmi M, Tajik F, Asadi-Lari M, Ghods R, Madjd Z. Oncogenic functions and clinical significances of DCLK1 isoforms in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:217. [PMID: 35717205 PMCID: PMC9206744 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The oncogenic role of doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) as a putative cancer stem cell (CSC) marker has been clarified in colorectal cancer (CRC). Isoform-specific functions of DCLK1 have shed new light on different functions of DCLK1 short (DCLK1-S) and DCLK1 long (DCLK1-L) isoforms in tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review the available in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence on the oncogenic roles and clinical significance of DCLK1 isoforms in colorectal cancer. Methods The literature databases of PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify eligible articles. The description characteristics of in vitro and pre-clinical studies were extracted from identified reports. In addition, hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were recorded to determine the relationships between DCLK1-L and DCLK1-S expression and prognostic outcomes in patients with CRC. Results Both in vitro and in vivo evidence have emphasized the potential oncogenic functions of DCLK1 in tumor initiation, self-renewal ability, tumor invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. However, the anti-DCLK1 antibodies generally utilized in these studies could detect sequence homology epitopes of both isoforms. Recent limited isoform-specific evidence has strongly supported the significant positive expression and rather oncogenic efficacy of DCLK1-S in tumorigenesis, EMT, and invasion compared with DCLK1-L in human CRC cell lines. Our meta-analysis findings of limited clinical studies indicated that only overexpression of DCLK1-S is associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 7.930, 95% CI 2.252–27.924, p = 0.001). Increased expression of both DCLK1-S (HR = 1.610, 95% CI 1.020–2.541, p = 0.041) and DCLK1-L (HR = 5.890, 95% CI 1.219–28.453, p = 0.027) isoforms was closely associated with worse DSS/CSS in CRC patients. Furthermore, the high expression of DCLK1-S was found to be associated with poor DFS/RFS/PFS (HR = 1.913, 95% CI 1.230–2.973, p = 0.004). Conclusions The current findings strongly supported that the DCLK1-S isoform may play a crucial role in the invasion, aggressive tumor behavior, and worsened survival outcomes of CRC patients. However, further critical investigations related to the potential preclinical and clinical utilities of DCLK1-S as a specific CRC-CSC marker are warranted. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02632-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Kalantari
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Razmi
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Asadi-Lari
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roya Ghods
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.
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Agulto RL, Rogers MM, Tan TC, Ramkumar A, Downing AM, Bodin H, Castro J, Nowakowski DW, Ori-McKenney KM. Autoregulatory control of microtubule binding in doublecortin-like kinase 1. eLife 2021; 10:e60126. [PMID: 34310279 PMCID: PMC8352597 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein, doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), is highly expressed in a range of cancers and is a prominent therapeutic target for kinase inhibitors. The physiological roles of DCLK1 kinase activity and how it is regulated remain elusive. Here, we analyze the role of mammalian DCLK1 kinase activity in regulating microtubule binding. We found that DCLK1 autophosphorylates a residue within its C-terminal tail to restrict its kinase activity and prevent aberrant hyperphosphorylation within its microtubule-binding domain. Removal of the C-terminal tail or mutation of this residue causes an increase in phosphorylation within the doublecortin domains, which abolishes microtubule binding. Therefore, autophosphorylation at specific sites within DCLK1 has diametric effects on the molecule's association with microtubules. Our results suggest a mechanism by which DCLK1 modulates its kinase activity to tune its microtubule-binding affinity. These results provide molecular insights for future therapeutic efforts related to DCLK1's role in cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina L Agulto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Melissa M Rogers
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Tracy C Tan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Amrita Ramkumar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Ashlyn M Downing
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Hannah Bodin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
| | - Julia Castro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavisUnited States
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Tuft and Cancer Stem Cell Marker DCLK1: A New Target to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123801. [PMID: 33348546 PMCID: PMC7766931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a tumor stem cell marker in colon, pancreatic, and potentially other cancers that has received wide attention recently. Aside from its role as a tuft cell marker in normal tissue and as a tumor stem cell marker in cancer, previous studies have demonstrated that silencing DCLK1 functionally reduces stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tumorigenesis in cancers. More recently, DCLK1′s role in regulating the inflammatory, pre-cancer, and tumor microenvironment including its ability to modulate immune cell mechanisms has started to come into focus. Importantly, clinically viable therapeutic means of targeting DCLK1 have finally become available in the form of kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T). Herein, we comprehensively review the mechanistic role of DCLK1 in the tumor microenvironment, assess the potential for targeting DCLK1 in colon, pancreatic and renal cancer. Abstract Microtubule-associated doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an accepted marker of tuft cells (TCs) and several kinds of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and emerging evidence suggests that DCLK1-positive TCs participate in the initiation and formation of inflammation-associated cancer. DCLK1-expressing CSCs regulate multiple biological processes in cancer, promote resistance to therapy, and are associated with metastasis. In solid tumor cancers, tumor epithelia, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells and blood vessels, extracellular matrix, and hypoxia all support a CSC phenotype characterized by drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Recently, studies have shown that DCLK1-positive CSCs are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immune checkpoint. Emerging data concerning targeting DCLK1 with small molecular inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells shows promising effects on inhibiting tumor growth and regulating the tumor immune microenvironment. Overall, DCLK1 is reaching maturity as an anti-cancer target and therapies directed against it may have potential against CSCs directly, in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, and as immunotherapies.
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Li L, Jones K, Mei H. Doublecotin-Like Kinase 1 Increases Chemoresistance of Colorectal Cancer Cells through the Anti-Apoptosis Pathway. JOURNAL OF STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY 2019; 9. [PMID: 31372308 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7633.1000447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are believed to be the primary reason for the recurrence of CRC. Specific stem cell marker, doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of CRC. Up-regulation of DCLK1 is correlated with poor prognosis. Whether DCLK1 is correlated with enhanced chemoresistance of CRC cells is unclear. We aim to reveal the association of DCLK1 with chemoresistance of CRC cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods Stable DCLK1 over-expression cells (DCLK1+) were established using the HCT116 cells (WT). DCLK1+ and WT cells were treated with 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) at different doses for 24 or 48 hours. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability and IC50 of 5-Fu was determined. Quantitative real-time PCR was applied to determine the gene expression of caspase-3 (casp-3), casp-4, and casp-10. Cleaved casp-3 expression was investigated using Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results Our results demonstrated that IC50 of 5-Fu for the DCLK1+ cells was significantly higher than that of the WT cells for both 24 and 48-hour treatment (p=0.002 and 0.048 respectively), indicating increased chemoresistance of the DCLK1+ cells. Gene expression of casp-3, casp-4, and casp-10 were significantly inhibited in the DCLK1+ cells after 5-Fu treatment compared to the WT cells (p=7.616e-08, 1.575e-05 and 5.307e-08, respectively). Cleaved casp-3 amount and casp-3 positive cells were significantly decreased in the DCLK1+ cells after 5-Fu treatment compared to the WT cells (p=0.015). Conclusions In conclusion, our results demonstrated that DCLK1 overexpression enhanced the chemoresistance of CRC cells to 5-Fu treatment by suppressing gene expression of key caspases in the apoptosis pathway and activation of the apoptosis pathway. DCLK1 can be an intriguing therapeutic target for the effective treatment of CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianna Li
- Biology Department, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, USA
| | - Kierra Jones
- Biology Department, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, USA
| | - Hao Mei
- Department of Data Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA
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Ji D, Zhan T, Li M, Yao Y, Jia J, Yi H, Qiao M, Xia J, Zhang Z, Ding H, Song C, Han Y, Gu J. Enhancement of Sensitivity to Chemo/Radiation Therapy by Using miR-15b against DCLK1 in Colorectal Cancer. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:1506-1522. [PMID: 30449704 PMCID: PMC6294114 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemo-/radiotherapy resistance is the main cause accounting for most treatment failure in colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are the culprit leading to CRC chemo-/radiotherapy resistance. The underlying regulation mechanism of TICs in CRC remains unclear. Here we discovered that miR-15b expression positively correlated with therapeutic outcome in CRC. Expression of miR-15b in pretreatment biopsy tissue samples predicted tumor regression grade (TRG) in rectal cancer patients after receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy (nRT). Expression of miR-15b in post-nRT tissue samples was associated with therapeutic outcome. DCLK1 was identified as the direct target gene for miR-15b and its suppression was associated with self-renewal and tumorigenic properties of DCLK1+ TICs. We identified B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region l homolog (BMI1) as a downstream target regulated by miR-15b/DCLK1 signaling. Thus, miR-15b may serve as a valuable marker for prognosis and therapeutic outcome prediction. DCLK1 could be a potential therapeutic target to overcome chemo-/radioresistance in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengbo Ji
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Tiancheng Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yunfeng Yao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jinying Jia
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Haizhao Yi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Meng Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jinhong Xia
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Zhiqian Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Huirong Ding
- Central Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Can Song
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yong Han
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Jin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China; Peking University S.G. Hospital, Beijing 100144, China.
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Middelhoff M, Westphalen CB, Hayakawa Y, Yan KS, Gershon MD, Wang TC, Quante M. Dclk1-expressing tuft cells: critical modulators of the intestinal niche? Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2017; 313:G285-G299. [PMID: 28684459 PMCID: PMC5668570 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00073.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Dclk1-expressing tuft cells constitute a unique intestinal epithelial lineage that is distinct from enterocytes, Paneth cells, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells. Tuft cells express taste-related receptors and distinct transcription factors and interact closely with the enteric nervous system, suggesting a chemosensory cell lineage. In addition, recent work has shown that tuft cells interact closely with cells of the immune system, with a critical role in the cellular regulatory network governing responses to luminal parasites. Importantly, ablation of tuft cells severely impairs epithelial proliferation and tissue regeneration after injury, implicating tuft cells in the modulation of epithelial stem/progenitor function. Finally, tuft cells expand during chronic inflammation and in preneoplastic tissues, suggesting a possible early role in inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. Hence, we outline and discuss emerging evidence that strongly supports tuft cells as key regulatory cells in the complex network of the intestinal microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Middelhoff
- 1Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; ,2II. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany;
| | - C. Benedikt Westphalen
- 3Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany;
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- 4Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;
| | - Kelley S. Yan
- 1Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; ,5Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; and
| | - Michael D. Gershon
- 6Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Timothy C. Wang
- 1Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York;
| | - Michael Quante
- II. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany;
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Gao T, Wang M, Xu L, Wen T, Liu J, An G. DCLK1 is up-regulated and associated with metastasis and prognosis in colorectal cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2016; 142:2131-40. [PMID: 27520310 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-016-2218-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbo Gao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Lingling Xu
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Tao Wen
- Medical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Medical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Guangyu An
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gong Ti Nan Lu, Beijing, 100020, China.
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Chandrakesan P, Panneerselvam J, Qu D, Weygant N, May R, Bronze MS, Houchen CW. Regulatory Roles of Dclk1 in Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 7. [PMID: 27335684 PMCID: PMC4913783 DOI: 10.4172/2157-2518.1000257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The identification of functionally relevant subpopulations of therapy-resistant cancer cells is a challenge. These cells, intrinsically resistant to conventional therapy, can cause recurrence. Evidence has suggested that therapy-resistant cancer cells are likely epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) cells and/or stem-like cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). EMT, a normal embryological process that converts epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells, is frequently activated during cancer development and progression. CSCs are a small subpopulation of cancer cells within a tumor mass that have the ability to self-renew and maintain tumor-initiating capacity by giving rise to heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the whole tumor. Although the origin of CSCs and EMT cells remains to be fully explored, a growing body of evidence has indicated that the biology of EMT and CSCs is strongly linked. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), a cancer stem cell marker, is functionally involved in maintaining cancer stemness and the process of EMT important for cancer initiation, cancer metastasis, and secondary tumor formation. Therefore, targeting these cells may provide new strategies to overcome tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and cancer relapse. In this review, we will provide a potential mechanistic link between EMT induction and the emergence of CSCs for the origin and progression of cancer. We will highlight the functional activity of DCLK1 in supporting EMT and cancer cell self-renewal, which will lead us to a better understanding of DCLK1 expression in cancer development and progression, and help us to develop targeted therapies for effective cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chandrakesan
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - J Panneerselvam
- Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - D Qu
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - N Weygant
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - R May
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - M S Bronze
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - C W Houchen
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; COARE Biotechnology, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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11
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Ahmed I, Roy BC, Subramaniam D, Ganie SA, Kwatra D, Dixon D, Anant S, Zargar MA, Umar S. An ornamental plant targets epigenetic signaling to block cancer stem cell-driven colon carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 2016; 37:385-96. [PMID: 26785732 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgw009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochemicals modulate key cellular signaling pathways and have proven anticancer effects. Alcea rosea(AR; Hollyhock) is an ornamental plant with known anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored its role as an anticancer agent. The AR seed extract (AR extract) inhibited proliferation and colony formation in a dose- and time-dependent manner and promoted apoptosis as was evidenced by cleavage of PARP and increased expression of Bax accompanying reduced levels of BCL-xl protein in HCT116 and SW480 cells, respectively. In addition, AR extract-arrested cells at Go/G1 phase of cell cycle and exhibited decreases in Cyclin D1. AR extract-treated cells exhibited reduced number and size of colonospheres in a dose-dependent manner concomitant with decreases in cancer stem cell (CSC) markers ALDH1A1 and Dclk1. Relative levels of β-catenin, Notch-ICD, Hes1 and EZH2 were also attenuated by AR extract. TOP-flash reporter activity, a measure of Wnt signaling, decreased significantly in response to treatment while overexpression of wild type but not mutant EZH2, reversed the inhibitory effects. Moreover, WIF1 (a Wnt antagonist) promoter activity increased dramatically following treatment with AR extract which phenocopied increases in WIF1 reporter activity following EZH2 knockdown.In vivo, AR extract attenuated tumor growth due probably to reduced levels of EZH2, β-catenin, CyclinD1 and Ki-67 along with reduced levels of CSC markers. Since partial purification via HPLC yielded a prominent peak, efforts are underway to identify the active ingredient(s). Taken together, the results clearly suggest that AR extract/active component(s) can be an effective preventative/therapeutic agent to target colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishfaq Ahmed
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Badal C Roy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Dharmalingam Subramaniam
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | | | - Deep Kwatra
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Adminstration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | - Shrikant Anant
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA, University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | | | - Shahid Umar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA, University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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12
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DCLK1 is a broadly dysregulated target against epithelial-mesenchymal transition, focal adhesion, and stemness in clear cell renal carcinoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:2193-205. [PMID: 25605241 PMCID: PMC4385845 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and the 8th most common cancer overall in the US. RCC survival rates drop precipitously with regional and distant spread and recent studies have demonstrated that RCC presents an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype linked to increased recurrence and decreased survival. EMT is a key characteristic of tumor stem cells (TSCs) along with chemo-resistance and radio-resistance, which are also phenotypic of RCC. Targeting these factors is key to increasing the survival of RCC patients. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) marks TSCs in pancreatic and colorectal cancer and regulates EMT and stemness. Analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas' RCC dataset revealed that DCLK1 is overexpressed and dysregulated on the mRNA and epigenetic level in more than 93% of RCC tumors relative to adjacent normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry using α-DCLK1 antibody confirmed overexpression and demonstrated a major increase in immunoreactivity in stage II-III tumors compared to normal kidney and stage I tumors. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated knockdown of DCLK1 resulted in decreased expression of EMT and pluripotency factors and significantly reduced invasion, migration, focal adhesion, drug-resistance, and clonogenic capacity. These findings suggest that DCLK1 is a novel, overexpressed factor in RCC progression that may be targeted to suppress EMT, metastasis, and stemness in early-stage and advanced RCC to increase patient survival. Moreover, the possibility that DCLK1 may mark a population of tumor stem-like cells in RCC should be further investigated in light of these findings.
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13
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Mirzaei A, Tavoosidana G, Rad AA, Rezaei F, Tavakoli-Yaraki M, Kadijani AA, Khalili E, Madjd Z. A new insight into cancer stem cell markers: Could local and circulating cancer stem cell markers correlate in colorectal cancer? Tumour Biol 2015; 37:2405-14. [PMID: 26383518 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3989-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cell (CSC) markers could serve as potential prognostic procedure. This study is aimed to investigate the local expression of doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) and Lgr5 in colorectal cancer tissues (CRC) at both protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) level, followed by providing a comparison of the local and circulating expression pattern of these markers, based on our present and previous study. The mRNA expression level of DCLK1 and Lgr5 was evaluated using comparative real-time PCR method applying 58 fresh tumor tissues and their correspondent normal margins. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the protein expression level of DCLK1 and Lgr5 in paraffin-embedded CRC tissues. The correlation of DCLK1 and Lgr5 expression pattern with clinicopathological characteristics was assessed. A higher mRNA expression level of DCLK1 (3.28-fold change, p < 0.001) and Lgr5 (2.29-fold change, p < 0.001) was observed in CRC fresh tissues compared to the normal adjacent margins, and the expression level was higher in patients with higher grade and stages of disease and patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The protein expression level of DCLK1 and Lgr5 was also increased significantly in tumor tissues compared to normal colon tissues which were positively correlated to tumor stage and grade and neoadjuvant CRT. Taken together, the results of protein analysis were in accordance with mRNA assessment. The local expression pattern of DCLK1 and Lgr5 was also in accordance with their expression level in circulation. However, some minor inconsistencies were observed which may be attributed to several factors including the possible effect of CRT on CSC reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mirzaei
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Eastern side of Tehran University, 88, Italia St, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Tavoosidana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Eastern side of Tehran University, 88, Italia St, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Afshin Abdi Rad
- Surgical Pathology Department, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Rezaei
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Tavakoli-Yaraki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azade Amini Kadijani
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Khalili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Hemmat Street (Highway), Next to Milad Tower, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Mirzaei A, Tavoosidana G, Modarressi MH, Rad AA, Fazeli MS, Shirkoohi R, Tavakoli-Yaraki M, Madjd Z. Upregulation of circulating cancer stem cell marker, DCLK1 but not Lgr5, in chemoradiotherapy-treated colorectal cancer patients. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:4801-10. [PMID: 25631749 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3132-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cell (CSC) markers have attracted considerable attention in tumor diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. Detection of cancer stem cells in circulating blood using cancer stem cell markers has received remarkable attention recently. In this study, we aimed to investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of Lgr5 and DCLK1 as most proposed colorectal CSC markers in blood circulation also determine the subsequent association to patients' clinical and pathological findings. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 58 patients with colorectal cancer at stage I-IV with 33 out of 58 patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), as well as 58 healthy controls have been isolated and the extracted RNAs were analyzed using real-time PCR. The mRNA expression pattern of CSC markers of patients and controls was compared using ΔΔCt method. The expression level of Lgr5 was significantly higher in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients comparing to healthy group (4.8-fold change, p < 0.001). Also there was a significant increase in expression level of Lgr5 in patients at stages III and IV comparing to stages I and II (p = 0.031) and higher grades (p = 0.039) of CRC. The expression of DCLK1 was also elevated in patients significantly (2.7-fold change, p < 0.001) and the related expression was increased by increasing disease stage (p = 0.025). Combination of DCLK1 and Lgr5 markers was analyzed by logistic regression and proved to be a slightly better marker compared to each marker alone. Interestingly the DCLK1 expression level was significantly higher in patients undergoing preoperative CRT (p = 0.041); however, no association to neoadjuvant CRT was observed for Lgr5. Considering the over-expression of DCLK1 and Lgr5 in circulating blood of CRC patients comparing to controls, our results might emphasize on the presence of CSCs in blood of these patients which might be attributed to their clinical and pathological characteristics and may lead to apply in future clinical implications. Moreover, the higher expression level of DCLK1 in patients undergoing CRT can propose it as a more relevant candidate among CSC markers comparing to Lgr5 for CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mirzaei
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Eastern side of Tehran University, 88, Italia St, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Weygant N, Qu D, Berry WL, May R, Chandrakesan P, Owen DB, Sureban SM, Ali N, Janknecht R, Houchen CW. Small molecule kinase inhibitor LRRK2-IN-1 demonstrates potent activity against colorectal and pancreatic cancer through inhibition of doublecortin-like kinase 1. Mol Cancer 2014; 13:103. [PMID: 24885928 PMCID: PMC4030036 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-13-103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is emerging as a tumor specific stem cell marker in colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of inhibiting DCLK1 with small interfering RNA (siRNA) as well as genetically targeting the DCLK1+ cell for deletion. However, the effects of inhibiting DCLK1 kinase activity have not been studied directly. Therefore, we assessed the effects of inhibiting DCLK1 kinase activity using the novel small molecule kinase inhibitor, LRRK2-IN-1, which demonstrates significant affinity for DCLK1. RESULTS Here we report that LRRK2-IN-1 demonstrates potent anti-cancer activity including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion as well as induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Additionally we found that it regulates stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and oncogenic targets on the molecular level. Moreover, we show that LRRK2-IN-1 suppresses DCLK1 kinase activity and downstream DCLK1 effector c-MYC, and demonstrate that DCLK1 kinase activity is a significant factor in resistance to LRRK2-IN-1. CONCLUSIONS Given DCLK1's tumor stem cell marker status, a strong understanding of its biological role and interactions in gastrointestinal tumors may lead to discoveries that improve patient outcomes. The results of this study suggest that small molecule inhibitors of DCLK1 kinase should be further investigated as they may hold promise as anti-tumor stem cell drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Weygant
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Dongfeng Qu
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - William L Berry
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Randal May
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | | | - Daniel B Owen
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sripathi M Sureban
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Naushad Ali
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ralf Janknecht
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Courtney W Houchen
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- COARE Biotechnology, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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16
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Ong BA, Vega KJ, Houchen CW. Intestinal stem cells and the colorectal cancer microenvironment. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:1898-1909. [PMID: 24587669 PMCID: PMC3934460 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i8.1898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a highly fatal condition in part due to its resilience to treatment and its propensity to spread beyond the site of primary occurrence. One possible avenue for cancer to escape eradication is via stem-like cancer cells that, through phenotypic heterogeneity, are more resilient than other tumor constituents and are key contributors to cancer growth and metastasis. These proliferative tumor cells are theorized to possess many properties akin to normal intestinal stem cells. Not only do these CRC “stem” cells demonstrate similar restorative ability, they also share many cell pathways and surface markers in common, as well as respond to the same key niche stimuli. With the improvement of techniques for epithelial stem cell identification, our understanding of CRC behavior is also evolving. Emerging evidence about cellular plasticity and epithelial mesenchymal transition are shedding light onto metastatic CRC processes and are also challenging fundamental concepts about unidirectional epithelial proliferation. This review aims to reappraise evidence supporting the existence and behavior of CRC stem cells, their relationship to normal stem cells, and their possible dependence on the stem cell niche.
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17
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Verissimo CS, Elands R, Cheng S, Saaltink DJ, ter Horst JP, Alme MN, Pont C, van de Water B, Håvik B, Fitzsimons CP, Vreugdenhil E. Silencing of doublecortin-like (DCL) results in decreased mitochondrial activity and delayed neuroblastoma tumor growth. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75752. [PMID: 24086625 PMCID: PMC3784435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Doublecortin-like (DCL) is a microtubule-binding protein crucial for neuroblastoma (NB) cell proliferation. We have investigated whether the anti-proliferative effect of DCL knockdown is linked to reduced mitochondrial activity. We found a delay in tumor development after DCL knockdown in vivo in doxycycline-inducible NB tumor xenografts. To understand the mechanisms underlying this tumor growth retardation we performed a series of in vitro experiments in NB cell lines. DCL colocalizes with mitochondria, interacts with the mitochondrial outer membrane protein OMP25/ SYNJ2BP and DCL knockdown results in decreased expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, DCL knockdown decreases cytochrome c oxidase activity and ATP synthesis. We identified the C-terminal Serine/Proline-rich domain and the second microtubule-binding area as crucial DCL domains for the regulation of cytochrome c oxidase activity and ATP synthesis. Furthermore, DCL knockdown causes a significant reduction in the proliferation rate of NB cells under an energetic challenge induced by low glucose availability. Together with our previous studies, our results corroborate DCL as a key player in NB tumor growth in which DCL controls not only mitotic spindle formation and the stabilization of the microtubule cytoskeleton, but also regulates mitochondrial activity and energy availability, which makes DCL a promising molecular target for NB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla S. Verissimo
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- * E-mail: (CSV); (EV)
| | - Rachel Elands
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sou Cheng
- Prosensa Therapeutics B.V., Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dirk-Jan Saaltink
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Judith P. ter Horst
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maria N. Alme
- Department of Biomedicine, K. G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Chantal Pont
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bob van de Water
- Division of Toxicology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bjarte Håvik
- Dr. E. Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carlos P. Fitzsimons
- Centre for Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erno Vreugdenhil
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Migraine Research Group, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- * E-mail: (CSV); (EV)
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