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Review
. 2017 Jul 3;8(3):164-171.
doi: 10.1080/21541248.2016.1208792. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Functional implication of Dclk1 and Dclk1-expressing cells in cancer

C Benedikt Westphalen  1 , Michael Quante  2 , Timothy C Wang  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Functional implication of Dclk1 and Dclk1-expressing cells in cancer

C Benedikt Westphalen et al. Small GTPases. .

Abstract

Doublecortin like kinase protein 1 (Dclk1) is a microtubule-associated protein with C-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain. Originally designated Doublecortin and CaM kinase-like 1 protein (Dcamkl1) or KIAA0369, Dclk1 was first described as a marker for radial glia cells in the context of microtubule polymerization and neuronal migration, possibly contributing to early neurogenesis. Additionally, Dclk1 was proposed as a marker of quiescent gastrointestinal and pancreatic stem cells, but in recent years has been recognized as a marker for tuft cells in the gastrointestinal tract. While Dclk1+ tuft cells are now considered as niche or sensory cells in the normal gut, growing evidence supports a role for Dclk1 function in a variety of malignancies, modulating the activity of multiple key pathways, including Kras signaling. Here, we review the recent advances in understanding of the importance of Dclk1 function in tumorigenesis and cancer.

Keywords: Dclk1; Kras; cancer; cancer initiating cells; cancer stem cells; inflammation and cancer; pancreatic cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Function of Dclk1 cells in the gastrointestinal tract. (Left) Long-lived Dclk1+ tuft cells can function as potent cancer initiating cells. (Center) Dclk1+ tuft cells are involved in homeostasis, niche formation and innate immunity. (Right) Dclk1+ tuft cells can function as cancer stem cells in the setting of Dclk1 haploinsufficiency.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Function of Dclk1 cells in the pancreas. (Left) Dclk1+ tuft-like cells function as niche cells and cancer stem cells in preinvasive and invasive pancreatic cancer. (Right) Dclk1 marks quiescent pancreatic progenitor and potent cancer-initiating cells in the acinar compartment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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