Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.33 | Aug 21 2013

Cancer Stemness in Wnt-Driven Mammary Tumorigenesis
By employing the CD24 and CD29 cell surface antigens, researchers identified a subpopulation of mammary cancer stem cells from Apc^1572T/+ capable of self-renewal and differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Berbamine Inhibits the Growth of Liver Cancer Cells and Cancer Initiating Cells by Targeting Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II
Researchers report that berbamine (BBM) and one of its derivatives, bbd24, potently suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation and induced cancer cell death by targeting Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Furthermore, BBM inhibited the in vivo tumorigenicity of liver cancer cells in NOD/SCID mice, and down-regulated the self-renewal abilities of liver cancer initiating cells. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Survived Ionizing Radiation Treatment Display Cancer Stem Cell and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Phenotypes
Cancer stem cells, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, may contribute to drug and radiation resistance mechanisms in solid tumors. Scientists investigated the molecular phenotype of A549 and H460 non small cell lung cancer cells that survived treatment with ionizing radiation and are growing as floating tumor spheres and cells that are maintained in a monolayer after irradiation. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Targeting Head and Neck Cancer Stem Cells to Overcome Resistance to Photon and Carbon Ion Radiation
The authors investigated the involvement of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in a radioresistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SQ20B). Stem-like cells SQ20B/SidePopulation/CD44⁺/ALDH^high were more resistant to both photon and carbon ion irradiation compared with non-CSCs. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Sirtuin-2 Activity Is Required for Glioma Stem Cell Proliferation Arrest but Not Necrosis Induced by Resveratrol
Investigators used resveratrol to explore the molecular mechanisms differing between glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and neural stem cells. They observed a dual action of resveratrol on GSCs: resveratrol blocked GSC proliferation up to 150 μM and induced their necrosis at higher doses. [Stem Cell Rev] Abstract

Growth and Differentiation Factor 3 Induces Expression of Genes Related to Differentiation in a Model of Cancer Stem Cells and Protects Them from Retinoic Acid-Induced Apoptosis
Researchers deciphered the role of GDF3 in an in vitro model of cancer stem cells, NCCIT cells. Using a classical approach to study protein function combined with high-throughput technique for transcriptome analysis and differentiation assays they evaluated GDF3 as a potential therapeutic target. [PLoS One] Full Article

Small Proline-Rich Protein-1B Is Overexpressed in Human Oral Squamous Cell Cancer Stem-Like Cells and Is Related to Their Growth through Activation of MAP Kinase Signal
Scientists investigated the molecular mechanism of the cell growth of oral cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/cancer-initiating cells (CICs). Oral CSCs/CICs were isolated as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 bright cells by the ALDEFLUOR assay. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Nonlinear Growth Kinetics of Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Implications for Cancer Stem Cell Targeted Therapy
Scientists present a mathematical model to explore the growth kinetics of cancer stem cells (CSC) population both in vitro and in vivo. Their mathematical models and supporting experiments suggest that there exist non-linear growth kinetics of CSCs and negative feedback mechanisms to control the balance between the population of CSCs and that of non-stem cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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BioLife Solutions Expands Strategic Relationship with STEMCELL Technologies Inc.
BioLife Solutions, Inc. announced an expansion of its relationship with STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Since August 2009, STEMCELL Technologies has distributed BioLife’s biopreservation media products to the worldwide research and clinical biobanking communities. [BioLife Solutions, Inc.] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Looking for ALDH⁺ cancer stem cells? Watch a video to see how ALDEFLUOR^TM can help.

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Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Tenure-Track Position – Cell Biologist (McGill University)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (McGill University)

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

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