DCLK1 and cancer: However, expression of DCLK1 was also associated with impaired DNA repair (57, 58), upregulation of WNT/β-catenin (59, 60), RAS (13, 61), PI3K/AKT (62) and VEGF (63, 64) signaling, suggesting a multifaceted role of DCLK1 in cancer initiation and progression.