Abstract PO-157: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-related peptide (CARP) increases stemness of colorectal cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-related peptide (CARP) is one of the five alternative splicing products of the doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) gene, which is a specific marker for cancer stem cells in multiple cancers. Up-regulation of DCLK1 is correlated with progression and poor prognosis of malignant cancers, but the role of individual DCLK1 isoforms during tumorigenesis is unclear. CARP was reported to play an important role in the hippocampus and in the facilitation of apoptosis in granule cells of the rat dentate gyrus. Here we aimed to reveal the effects of CARP on the stemness of cancer cells. In order to achieve our goal, isogenic CARP over-expressing cells were established using HCT116 cells, a colorectal cancer cell line. Spheroid formation assay, proliferation assay, and clonogenic capacity assay were applied to assess the effects of CARP on cancer biology. Our results demonstrated that over-expression of CARP increased the number of spheroids, but decreased the proliferation rate in comparison to parental control HCT116 cells. In conclusion, CARP can increase the self-renewal capability of cancer cells under spheroid formation conditions, but can also inhibit cell proliferation under normal cell culture conditions. CARP may be used to develop a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Citation Format: Leo Mei, Jinghe Mao. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-related peptide (CARP) increases stemness 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-157.