Abstract PO-135: The effects of DCLK1 isoform 2 upon the migration and invasion capabilities of colorectal cancer cells

Double Cortin-like Kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker that is over-expressed in CSCs and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cells of many cancers. Due to its expression in the chemoresistant, tumorigenic subpopulation in cancer tissue, DCLK1 plays critical roles in indefinite cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, tumor metastasis, and recurrence of cancer. Further evidence has shown that the deregulation or inhibition of DCLK1 directly causes a decrease in cancer succession and reduces the possibility of relapse. DCLK1 has five isoforms and association of each isoform with human colorectal cancer (hCRC) is unclear. For the current project, we aim to reveal correlation of the DCLK1 isoform 2 (DCLK1-S) with invasion and migration capability of hCRC cells. In order to achieve our goal, we established the isogenic DCLK1-S over-expression cells using the HCT116 cell line, performed the scratching assay, and used ImageJ software to determine the wound healing speed of DCLK1-S over-expression cells and HCT116 cells. Our preliminary results demonstrated that DCLK1-S was not associated with increased migration and invasion capability of hCRC cells. Compared to the HCT116 cells, the wound healing speed of DCLK1-S over-expression cells significantly decreased (P<0.05). Therefore, the DCLK1-S might not change migration and invasion capabilities of hCRC cells. In the future, we will further confirm our findings and will determine whether DCLK1-S affect stemness of hCRC CSCs and EMTs from other aspects.Citation Format: Valeria Brown, Lianna Li. The effects of DCLK1 isoform 2 upon the migration and invasion capabilities of colorectal cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-135.