Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.31 | Aug 7 2013

Plasma Membrane Proteomics of Tumor Spheres Identify CD166 as a Novel Marker for Cancer Stem Like Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Researchers established sphere cultures to enrich cancer stem cells and used them for plasma membrane proteomics to identify specific membrane signatures of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma spheres. [Mol Cell Proteomics] Abstract

Constitutive Activation of STAT3 and NF-κB Signaling in Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Regulates the Notch Pathway
The authors describe a novel relationship between glioblastoma cancer stem cells and the Notch pathway, which involves the constitutive activation of STAT3 and NF-κB signaling. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Significance of mTOR Signaling and Its Inhibitor against Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Colorectal Cancer
Investigators determined the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in sustaining cancer stem-like cells and its clinical values in colorectal cancer. [Ann Surg Oncol] Abstract

Difluorinated-Curcumin (CDF) Restores PTEN Expression in Colon Cancer Cells by Down-Regulating miR-21
Colonospheres that are highly enriched in cancer stem/stem like cells reveal increased microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression and decreased PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog). CDF, a novel analog of the dietary ingredient curcumin, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of 5-Flurouracil + Oxaliplatin resistant colon cancer cells, downregulated miR-21 in chemo-resistant colon cancer HCT116 and HT-29 cells and restored PTEN levels with subsequent reduction in Akt phosphorylation. [PLoS One] Full Article

MicroRNA-21 Promotes Ovarian Teratocarcinoma PA1 Cell Line by Sustaining Cancer Stem/Progenitor Populations In Vitro
Ovarian teratocarcinoma arises from germ cells and comprises pluripotent cells that can be used to study cancer cell stemness. Researchers evaluated whether microRNA-21 promotes ovarian teratocarcinoma by maintaining cancer stem/progenitor populations. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

The Clinicopathological Significance of Lgr5 Expression in Lung Adenocarcinoma
The leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), also known as Gpr49, has been identified as a marker of crypt basal columnar stem cells along the gastrointestinal tract and of bulge stem cells in the hair follicle. Researchers aimed to immunohistochemically examine Lgr5 expression in surgically resected non-small cell lung carcinomas, and evaluate the relationships between Lgr5 expression and the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of patients. [Lung Cancer] Abstract

A Bispecific Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule/CD133-Targeted Toxin Is Effective against Carcinoma
Scientists characterized a bispecific targeted toxin that is composed of two antibody fragments and a catalytic protein toxin allowing it to bind two cancer stem cell markers on the same cell killing this resistant subpopulation. [Target Oncol] Abstract

Effect of β-Carotene on Cancer Cell Stemness and Differentiation in SK-N-BE(2)C Neuroblastoma Cells
β-carotene was shown to reduce cell growth and induce neuronal cell differentiation, concomitant with a marked increase in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. More importantly, β-carotene inhibited self-renewal characteristics of cancer stem cells and decreased expression of several stem cell markers. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells with Sulforaphane, a Dietary Component from Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts
Scientists focused on the effects of sulforaphane on cancer stem cells and self-renewal pathways, as well as giving a brief review of recent human studies using broccoli sprout preparations. [Future Oncol] Abstract

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Susan G. Komen® Awards $3.6 Million in Grants to UNC and Duke for Breast Cancer Research in 2013
Susan G. Komen® announced $3.6 million in research funding to ten programs at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and Duke University. The grants are part of Komen’s $42 million 2013 national research portfolio. [North Carolina Triangle to the Coast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen] Press Release

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NEW Tenure-Track Position – Cell Biologist (McGill University)

NEW Postdoctoral Appointee – Cell Cycle Regulation in Tumor Stem Cells (Rutgers University, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Research Technician – Self-Renewal of Cancer Stem Cells (University of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Oncogene-Specific Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells (Cancer Science Institute of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (University of British Columbia)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Molecular Bases of Cancer Initiation and Progression (New York University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (McGill University)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular and Cellular Oncology (VIB Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, University of Ghent)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

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