Project description:Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (Dclk1) is known as a cancer stem cell marker of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). But the functional evidence to define the stem cell activity of these cells within tumors has not been explored. We compared the gene expression profiles of Dclk1-positive and -negative PDACs cells.
Project description:OCT-embedded PDAC tissues were assessed for stromal and tumour epithelial regions which were both laser-capture microdissected from 33 patients. Integration of these proteomic profiles with transcriptomic data lead to the identification of two spatially confined tumour microenvironment programs: deserted and reactive.
Project description:Analysis of myofibroblast ablation at the gene expression level of PDAC tumors. Total RNA optained from pancreas of PDAC mice with and without aSMA myofibroblast ablated In addition, late stage aSMA ablated mice were treated with anti-CTLA4 treatment
Project description:Doublecortin like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an understudied kinase that is upregulated in a wide range of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, little is known about its potential as a therapeutic target. We leveraged chemoproteomic profiling and structure-based design to develop the first selective, in vivo-compatible chemical probe of the DCLK1 kinase domain, DCLK1-IN-1. We demonstrate activity of DCLK1-IN-1 against clinically relevant patient-derived PDAC organoid models and use a combination of RNA sequencing, proteomics and phosphoproteomics analysis to reveal that DCLK1 inhibition modulates proteins and pathways associated with cell motility in this context. DCLK1-IN-1 will serve as a versatile tool to investigate DCLK1 biology and establish its role in cancer.
Project description:Accumulating evidence has shown the existence of tumor stem cells, and many researchers and clinicians are focusing on the therapeutic potential of targeting tumor stem cells. Previously, we reported that doublecortin like kinase 1 (Dclk1) marks tumor stem cells but not normal stem cells in ApcMin/+ mouse intestine, and that selective ablation of Dclk1+ cells results in collapse of the intestinal tumors without any apparent damages in the normal mucosa. Here, we sought to clarify gene expresion profile of Dclk1+ cells by microarray analyses in mouse normal intestinal epithelium and ApcMin/+ mouse intestinal tumors. Microarray analyses demonstrated that genes related to microtubules and actin cytoskeleton (e.g., Rac2) were highly expressed in Dclk1+ normal intestinal and tumor cells. We found the expression of Src family kinases (i.e., Hck, Lyn, Csk, and Ptpn6) in Dclk1+ normal intestinal and tumor cells.