Role of doublecortin-like kinase 1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 in patients with stage II/III colorectal cancer: Cancer progression and prognosis

Figure 1 Representative doublecortin-like kinase 1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 immuno-histochemical staining in colorectal cancer samples. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) was expressed at the membrane, and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) was expressed in the cytoplasm of colorectal cancer cells. Expression levels of DCLK1 and Lgr5 were scored as negative (0), weak (1), moderate (2), or strong (3) staining intensity (original magnification 200 ×). DCLK1: Doublecortin-like kinase 1; Lgr5: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5.

Figure 2 Correlation between doublecortin-like kinase 1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 immuno-histochemical expression in colorectal cancer specimens. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 expression were positively significantly correlated (r = 0.206, P < 0.001). DCLK1: Doublecortin-like kinase 1; Lgr5: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5.

Figure 3 High expression of doublecortin-like kinase 1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 was significantly associated with poorer progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Cumulative progression-free survival and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients in different groups were compared. A and B: Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1)^High and DCLK1^Low; C and D: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5)^High and Lgr5^Low; E and F: DCLK1^High/Lgr5^High and others. DCLK1: Doublecortin-like kinase 1; Lgr5: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5; PFS: Progression-free survival; OS: Overall survival.