Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41618382›Full record

ArticleMolecular cancer2026

DCLK1 drives malignant progression and chemoresistance of bladder cancer by deubiquitinating HDAC6.

Ashuai Du, Yuzheng Zhou, Xinpei Deng, Dongbo Yuan, Kai Li, Yuanyuan Luo, Songsong Tan, Xuchao Dai, Bo Yu, Kehua Jiang and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. DHCR24Oncogene · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Ashuai Du *Department of Infection, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550000, China.
Yuzheng Zhou *Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518112, China.
Xinpei DengDepartment of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Dongbo YuanDepartment of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550000, China.
Kai LiGuiZhou University Medical College, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Yuanyuan LuoGuiZhou University Medical College, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Songsong TanDepartment of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550000, China.
Xuchao DaiGuiZhou University Medical College, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Bo YuZunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China.
Kehua JiangDepartment of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550000, China.
Xingliang TanDepartment of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Guangzhou, 510060, China. tanxl1@sysucc.org.cn.
Jianguo ZhuDepartment of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550000, China. doctorzhujianguo@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy of the urinary system, with rising incidence and mortality. Advanced BC frequently recurs or metastasizes and is often refractory to curative surgical intervention. Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy remains the standard first-line treatment, its clinical efficacy is frequently compromised by the development of drug resistance. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and metastasis is therefore critical for improving therapeutic strategies.

methodsSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was conducted to assess intratumoral heterogeneity and identify expression programs associated with bladder cancer progression. DCLK1 emerged as a key cancer-related hub gene. Its role in metastasis, cisplatin resistance, and immune evasion was evaluated using sphere formation, CCK-8, Transwell, CFSE staining, and flow cytometry assays. The interaction between DCLK1, USP10, and HDAC6 was confirmed through RNA pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, cell localization, and molecular docking. Finally, the therapeutic potential of DCLK1, cisplatin, and ACY-1215 (an HDAC6 inhibitor) was tested in vivo.

resultsWe identified multiple cell types, including cancer cells, lymphocytes, myeloid cells, fibroblasts, and other stromal components. In cancer cells, six biologically relevant expression programs were revealed. Among key cancer-related genes, DCLK1 was notably enriched and promoted bladder cancer metastasis, cisplatin resistance, and stemness. Mechanistically, DCLK1 activated the Notch pathway to upregulate PD-L1, suppress CD8⁺ T cell activity, and promote immune evasion. It also facilitated USP10-HDAC6 interaction, removing K48-linked ubiquitin at Lys116 to prevent HDAC6 degradation. Importantly, HDAC6 depletion abrogated the oncogenic effects of DCLK1, whereas inhibition of DCLK1 suppressed tumor progression and enhanced the antitumor efficacy of combined cisplatin and ACY-1215 treatment.

conclusionsDCLK1 is a critical driver of bladder cancer progression, chemoresistance, and immune escape. Single-cell analysis and functional assays revealed that DCLK1 enhances metastasis and stemness by activating the Notch/PD-L1 axis and stabilizing HDAC6 through USP10 interaction. Targeting DCLK1, alone or in combination with cisplatin and HDAC6 inhibition, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced bladder cancer.

Indexed as

Drug Resistance, NeoplasmHistone Deacetylase 6Intracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesUrinary Bladder NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCisplatinDisease ProgressionDoublecortin-Like KinasesGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMiceUbiquitinationCisplatinDoublecortin-Like KinasesHDAC6 protein, humanHistone Deacetylase 6Intracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesBladder cancerChemoresistanceDCLK1HDAC6Immune evasionMetastasisscRNA-seqUSP10

Identifiers

PMID41618382
PMCPMC12947461

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.