Capture and Stimulated Release of Circulating Tumor Cells on Polymer-Grafted Silicon Nanostructures A platform for capture and release of circulating tumor cells is demonstrated by utilizing polymer grafted silicon nanowires. In this platform, integration of ligand-receptor recognition, nanostructure amplification, and thermal responsive polymers enables a highly efficient and selective capture of cancer cells. Subsequently, these captured cells are released upon a physical stimulation with outstanding cell viability. [Adv Mater] Abstract | Press Release Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Autophagic Degradation of Helicobacter pylori CagA Is Specifically Suppressed in Cancer Stem-Like Cells Findings provide a molecular link between Helicobacter pylori and gastric carcinogenesis through the specific accumulation of CagA in gastric cancer stem-like cells. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract Acute B Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Propagating Cells Are Present at High Frequency in Diverse Lymphoblast Populations Scientists demonstrated in a wide range of primary patient samples and patient samples previously passaged through mice that leukemia-propagating cells are found in all populations defined by high or low expression of the lymphoid differentiation markers CD10, CD20 or CD34. The frequency of leukemia-propagating cells and their engraftment kinetics do not differ between these populations. [EMBO Mol Med] Abstract | Full Article Contrasting Hypoxic Effects on Breast Cancer Stem Cell Hierarchy Is Dependent on ERα Status Anti-angiogenic therapies show some therapeutic potential with increased disease free survival but these initial promising results are short lived and followed by tumor progression. Researchers hypothesized that this may be due to altered cancer stem cell (CSC) activity resulting from increased tumor hypoxia. They studied the effects of hypoxia on CSC activity, using in vitro mammosphere and holoclone assays as well as in vivo limiting dilution experiments, in 13 patient-derived samples and four cell lines. [Cancer Res] Abstract ΔNp63α Mediated Activation of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Governs Stem Cell Activity and Plasticity in Normal and Malignant Mammary Epithelial Cells The authors reported that ΔNp63α activates BMP signaling by inducing the expression of BMP7. Suppression of BMP signaling in vitro with LDN193189, a small molecule inhibitor of BMP Type I Receptor kinases, represses clonogenicity and diminishes the cancer stem cell enriched ALDH1+ population. [Cancer Res] Abstract ROCK1 Inhibition Promotes the Self-Renewal of a Novel Mouse Mammary Cancer Stem Cell Researchers report the propagation of highly enriched mouse mammary cancer stem cells that retain the potential to differentiate both in vivo and in culture and their use to identify chemical compounds that influence both self-renewal and differentiation. [Stem Cells] Abstract Cathepsin B and uPAR Regulate Self-Renewal of Glioma-Initiating Cells through GLI-Regulated Sox2 and Bmi1 Expression Researchers investigated the role of uPAR and cathepsin B in the maintenance of stem cell nature in glioma initiating cells. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract Long-Term Tumor Regression Induced by an Antibody-Drug Conjugate that Targets 5T4, an Oncofetal Antigen Expressed on Tumor-Initiating Cells Investigators sought to develop a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets 5T4, an oncofetal antigen expressed on tumor-initiating cells, which comprise the most aggressive cell population in the tumor. They optimized an anti-5T4 ADC by sulfydryl-based conjugation of the humanized A1 antibody to the tubulin inhibitor monomethylauristatin F via a maleimidocaproyl linker. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract ![[Alt-text] Free Interactive Tutorial: Explore Mammary Progenitor Cell Colonies](http://img.en25.com/eloquaimages/clients/stemcelltechnologiesinc/%7B62d680f2-07f4-4772-91cf-e886037f2d0a%7D_on394epi-mammarytutorial-645x110.jpg) |