Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.42 | Oct 23 2013

Cancer Stem Cell Therapy Using Doxorubicin Conjugated to Gold Nanoparticles via Hydrazone Bonds
Researchers report that rationally designed nanoparticles can efficiently deliver drugs to cancer stem cells, which in turn contributes significantly to the improved anti-cancer efficacy. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Single-Cell Clones of Liver Cancer Stem Cells Have the Potential of Differentiating into Different Types of Tumor Cells
Scientists showed that single-cell-cloned cancer stem cells, accidentally obtained from a human liver cancer microvascular endothelial cells, express classic stem cell markers, genes associated with self-renewal and pluripotent factors and possess colony-forming ability in vitro and the ability of serial transplantation in vivo. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase Elevated in Tumor-Initiating Cells Is Suppressed by Mitocans
Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) often survive therapy and give rise to second-line tumors. Researchers tested the plausibility of sphere cultures as models of TICs. Microarray data and microRNA data analysis confirmed the validity of spheres as models of TICs for breast and prostate cancer as well as mesothelioma cell lines. [Free Radic Biol Med] Abstract

Stem Cell Self-Renewal Factors Bmi1 and HMGA2 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clues for Diagnosis
Stemness molecule expressions were determined in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as well as their properties and prognosis. Two proto-oncogenic chromatin regulators, Bmi-1 and high-mobility-group A2 (Hmga2), were identified in 12 pair cases of HNSCC tumor regions by comparison with their non-cancerous background tissues using cDNA microarray. [Lab Invest] Abstract

Generation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Steroid Hormones in Irradiated Human Mammary Cell Lines
In order to assess whether the modulation of radiation-induced breast cancer risk by steroid hormones could involve cancer stem cells (CSCs), scientists measured by flow cytometry the proportion of CSCs in irradiated breast cancer cell lines after progesterone and estrogen treatment. [PLoS One] Full Article

Endothelial Cells Do Not Arise from Tumor-Initiating Cells in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Investigators examined human hepatocellular carcinomas in settings that selected for tumor formation from functionally defined tumor-initiating cells (TICs), and in which the origin of intratumoral endothelial cells from TICs as opposed to host tissues could be clearly distinguished. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Three-Dimensional Collagen Scaffold Enhances the Human Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cancer Stem Cell and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Properties
Scientists showed that a 3D scaffold not only induced the diversification of cell morphologies but also increased the cell proliferation. The transcription of matrix metalloproteinase and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were significantly increased in the cells cultured in 3D collagen scaffolds. In addition, the expression of cancer stem cell markers of Sox2 and Oct4 were higher than that in 2D cultured cells. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract

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Stem Cell Therapeutics Strengthens CD47 Franchise with Acquisition of Complementary Antibody Program
Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. announced that it has entered into an option agreement to exclusively license worldwide rights to a panel of fully human monoclonal antibodies targeting the SIRPa protein. [Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.] Press Release

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Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (University of Notre Dame)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Research Studying Glioblastoma Biology (UC San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – RNA & Stem Cell Biology (Cancer Research Centre of Lyon)

Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer Stem Cell Biology (UC College of Medicine)

Tenure Track Faculty Positions – Cancer Biology (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Assistant Professor – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (METU Department of Biology)

Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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