Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.13 | Apr 3 2013

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

High-Purity Prostate Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation by a Polymer Nanofiber-Embedded Microchip for Whole Exome Sequencing
A modified NanoVelcro Chip is coupled with ArcturusXT laser capture microdissection technology to enable the detection and isolation of single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with prostate cancer. This new approach paves the way for conducting next-generation sequencing on single CTCs. [Adv Mater] Abstract | Press Release

β-Catenin/POU5F1/SOX2 Transcription Factor Complex Mediates IGF-1 Receptor Signaling and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Investigators demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R)-mediated POU5F1 expression to form a complex with β-catenin and SOX2 is crucial for the self-renewal and oncogenic potentials of human lung adenocarcinoma stem-like cells, and the integrative clinical detection of the expressions of IGF-1R, β-catenin and POU5F1 is indicatory for predicting prognosis in the patients of lung adenocarcinoma. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Acquired Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors Is Associated with a Manifestation of Stem Cell-Like Properties in Cancer Cells
Researchers investigated the molecular and cellular profiles of the acquired resistant cells to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in EGFR mutant lung cancers. Results indicated that the manner of EGFR-TKI exposure influences the mechanism of acquired resistance and the appearance of stem cell-like property with EGFR-TKI treatment. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Embryonic Carcinoma Cells Show Specific Dielectric Resistance Profiles during Induced Differentiation
Certain nucleoside analogues, such as 2′-deoxy-5-azacytidine and 1β-arabinofuranosylcytosine, can induce the differentiation of the embryonic cancer stem cell line NTERA 2 D1 (NT2). In order to further elucidate the mode of action of these nucleoside drugs, researchers monitored differentiation-specific changes of the dielectric properties of growing NT2 cultures using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. [PLoS One] Full Article

Short-Term Single Treatment of Chemotherapy Results in the Enrichment of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell-Like Cells Leading to an Increased Tumor Burden
Using two distinct ovarian cancer cell lines (epithelial OVCA 433 and mesenchymal HEY) scientists demonstrated enrichment in a population of cells with high expression of CSC markers at the protein and mRNA levels in response to cisplatin, paclitaxel and the combination of both. [Mol Cancer]
Abstract | Full Article

Down-Regulation of miR-21 Induces Differentiation of Chemoresistant Colon Cancer Cells and Enhances Susceptibility to Therapeutic Regimens
Researchers’ observation suggests that difluorinated curcumin (CDF) as well as CDF + 5-FU+ Oxaliplatin are highly effective in inhibiting growth and reducing colon cancer stem/stem-like cells in anti-microRNA-21 (miR-21)-induced differentiating chemotherapy-resistant (CR) colon cancer cells and supports the contention that differentiation enhances susceptibility of CR cancer cells to conventional and non-conventional therapeutic regimen. [Transl Oncol] Abstract | Full Article

Arsenic Trioxide Depletes Cancer Stem-Like Cells and Inhibits Repopulation of Neurosphere Derived from Glioblastoma by Downregulation of Notch Pathway
The authors used neurosphere recovery assay that measured neurosphere formation at three time points to assess the capacity of the culture to repopulate after arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment. Results provided strong evidence that ATO depleted cancer stem-like cells in glioblastoma multiforme, and inhibited neurosphere recovery and secondary neurosphere formation. [Toxicol Lett] Abstract

Morusin Inhibits Human Cervical Cancer Stem Cell Growth and Migration through Attenuation of NF-κB Activity and Apoptosis Induction
Morusin possesses anti-cancer activity through attenuation of NF-κB activity, which is up-regulated in cancer stem cells. Researchers aimed to confirm the growth and migration inhibition effect of morusin on human cervical cancer stem cells, and to clarify its partial mechanism of activity. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells: The Challenges Ahead
The author discusses the challenges in identifying cancer stem cells, their dependency on a supportive niche and their role in metastasis, and proposes that stemness is a flexible – rather than fixed – quality of tumor cells that can be lost and gained. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

The Role of Intratumoral and Systemic IL-6 in Breast Cancer
The authors review the associations between IL-6 and breast cancer ranging from in vitro cell culture studies to clinical studies, covering the role of IL-6 in controlling breast cancer cell growth, regulation of cancer stem cell renewal, as well as breast cancer cell migration. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cancer stem cell research field.

AstraZeneca and Moderna Therapeutics Announce Exclusive Agreement to Develop Pioneering Messenger RNA Therapeutics™ in Cardiometabolic Diseases and Cancer
AstraZeneca announced an exclusive agreement with Moderna Therapeutics to discover, develop and commercialize pioneering messenger RNA therapeutics™ for the treatment of serious cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases as well as cancer. [AstraZeneca] Press Release

Promising Stem Cell Therapy for Leukemia Patients
Leukemia patients receive a bone marrow transplant, which allows them to build a “new” immune system. However, this immune system not only attacks cancer cells but healthy tissue too. Special antibodies will be used to protect healthy tissue in future. [Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft] 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)

Postdoctoral Scientist (Eli Lilly)

Postdoctoral Position (University of Kentucky College of Medicine)

PhD Studentship Opportunity (University of East Anglia)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenetics (Structural Genomics Consortium at University of Toronto)

PhD Student (Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus)

PhD Studentship – Signal Transduction and Cancer Research (Department of Medicine, McGill University)


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