Abstract

Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 (DCLK1) is an important cancer stem cell marker associated with tumor progression and metastasis in gastrointestinal, pancreatic, breast, lung, and ovarian cancers. DCLK1 is an important key molecule for the initiation, promotion, metastasis, and development of therapy resistance in cancer. Various signalling molecules, epigenetic changes, hypoxia, and Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) can promote DCLK1 expression in the tumor microenvironment. Accumulating reports suggest that DCLK1-targeted immunotherapies play an important role in controlling the proliferation of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) and inhibiting tumor proliferation in cancer. DCLK1-targeted immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and engineered immune cells, may play a role in tumor regression. This review elucidates DCLK1-targeted immunotherapies play an important role in controlling the proliferation of CSCs and cancer treatment.

Keywords:DCLK1; Cancer stem cells; Immunotherapy; Cancer; CAR-T cells; Monoclonal antibodies