Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.00 | Jan 2 2013

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Intestinal Tumorigenesis Initiated by Dedifferentiation and Acquisition of Stem-Cell-Like Properties
NF-κBs function in tumor-initiating cells has not been examined yet. Using a genetic model of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-restricted constitutive Wnt-activation, which comprises the most common event in the initiation of colon cancer, scientists demonstrated that NF-κB modulates Wnt signaling and showed that IEC-specific ablation of RelA/p65 retards crypt stem cell expansion. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Metformin Inhibits the Inflammatory Response Associated with Cellular Transformation and Cancer Stem Cell Growth
Researchers’ observations suggest that metformin inhibits a signal transduction pathway that results in an inflammatory response. As metformin alters energy metabolism in diabetics, they speculated that metformin may block a metabolic stress response that stimulates the inflammatory pathway associated with a wide variety of cancers. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

MYC Regulation of CHK1 and CHK2 Promotes Radioresistance in a Stem Cell-Like Population of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells
A stem cell-like subpopulation (PKH26+) was identified in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines using a label retention technique. This study elucidates the role of the c-Myc (MYC)-Chk1/Chk2 axis in regulating DNA damage checkpoint responses and stem cell characteristics in the PKH26+ subpopulation. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Is a Key Downstream Mediator of MET Signaling in Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Data suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a key downstream effector of MET signaling and contributes to the maintenance of glioblastoma stem cell and glioblastoma malignancy. [Neuro Oncol] Abstract

Metformin Selectively Affects Human Glioblastoma Tumor-Initiating Cell Viability: A Role for Metformin-Induced Inhibition of Akt
Investigators report that metformin treatment reduced the proliferation rate of tumor-initiating cell-enriched cultures isolated from four human glioblastomas. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

p53 Restoration Kills Primitive Leukemia Cells In Vivo and Increases Survival of Leukemic Mice
Results suggest that reestablishing p53 function may be a therapeutic strategy for the eradication of leukemic stem cells and to prevent disease progression. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Focal Adhesion Kinase Scaffolding Function to Mediate Endophilin A2 Phosphorylation Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Mammary Cancer Stem Cell Activities In Vivo
Scientists report that disruption of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) scaffolding function through its P878/881 motif suppressed mammary tumor growth and metastasis in a well characterized murine model of human breast cancer. P878/881A mutation in the endogenous FAK gene decreased the expression of markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition and mammary cancer stem cell activities in tumors derived from the mutant mice. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

MiR-125b Functions as a Key Mediator for Snail-Induced Stem Cell Propagation and Chemoresistance
The authors report a novel mechanism that upregulation of miR-125b through Wnt signaling by Snail enriches cancer stem cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Regulation of Expression of ABCB1 and LRP Genes by Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway and its Role in Generation of Side Population Cells in Canine Lymphoma Cell Lines
The concept of the cancer stem cell (CSC) has been recognized as key for elucidation of the mechanisms that confer the multidrug resistance phenotype to tumor cells, and the side population (SP) fraction has been shown to be enriched by cells with the CSC phenotype. Researchers aimed to identify the mechanism that induces a difference of phenotype between the SP and the remaining major population using two canine lymphoma cell lines. [Leuk Lymphoma] Abstract

A Possible Usage of a CDK4 Inhibitor for Breast Cancer Stem Cell-Targeted Therapy
Researchers found that a CDK4 inhibitor sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells but not MCF7 cells to irradiation. This difference appeared to be associated with the relative percentage of cancer stem cell-population between the two breast cancer cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

FDA Clears OncoMed’s Demcizumab (Anti-DLL4) to Resume Clinical Testing in the US
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed a partial clinical hold on its demcizumab clinical program. Demcizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets Delta Like Ligand 4, or DLL4, in the Notch signaling pathway. [OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of Anti-Cancer Stem Cell Therapeutic OMP-52M51 (Anti-Notch1)
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that patient dosing has begun in a Phase I clinical trial of OMP-52M51 in patients with hematologic cancers. OMP-52M51 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted to the Notch1 receptor that has shown substantial anti-tumor and anti-cancer stem cell activity in Notch-dependent hematologic malignancies and solid tumors in preclinical studies. [OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Metabolic Determinants of Stem Cell Pluripotency and Cell Fate Commitments
February 1, 2013
New York, United States

NEW 2nd Annual Cell Line Development and Engineering Asia
March 4-6, 2013
Shanghai, China

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cancer stem cell community.

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

MSc – Future Opportunities (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

PhD – Future Opportunities (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Stem Cells and Cancer (Massachusetts General Hospital)   

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Epigenetics (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)   

Principal Investigators – Cancer Research (Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin – MKFZ)


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