Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.43 | Oct 30 2013

Epidermal Snail Expression Drives Skin Cancer Initiation and Progression through Enhanced Cytoprotection, Epidermal Stem/Progenitor Cell Expansion and Enhanced Metastatic Potential
To investigate the in vivo role of Snail during progression of epithelial cancer, researchers used a mouse model with skin-specific overexpression of Snail. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Detection and Characterization of Invasive Circulating Tumor Cells (iCTCs) Derived from Men with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC)
Scientists sought to determine the utility of prostate-specific membrane antigen as a mCRPC iCTC biomarker, to identify solitary cells and clusters of iCTCs expressing either epithelial, mesenchymal, or stem cell markers, and to explore the feasibility of iCTC epigenomic analysis. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Acquisition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cell Phenotypes Is Associated with Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway in Prostate Cancer Radioresistance
Scientists investigated the role and association of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in prostate cancer radioresistance. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Inhibition of CXCL12/CXCR4 Autocrine/Paracrine Loop Reduces Viability of Human Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells Affecting Self-Renewal Activity
Researchers demonstrate that cancer stem cells, isolated from five human glioblastomas (GBMs), express CXCR4 and release CXCL12 in vitro, although different levels of expression and secretion were observed in individual cultures, as expected for the heterogeneity of GBMs. [Toxicology] Abstract

Enrichment of Human Prostate Cancer Cells with Tumor Initiating Properties in Mouse and Zebrafish Xenografts by Differential Adhesion
Scientists adapted a collagen adherence feature to develop a combined immunophenotypic and time-of-adherence assay to identify human prostate tumor-initiating cells. [Prostate] Abstract | Press Release

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase and ATP Binding Cassette Transporter G2 (ABCG2) Functional Assays Isolate Different Populations of Prostate Stem Cells Where ABCG2 Function Selects for Cells with Increased Stem Cell Activity
To test for stem cell characteristics of self-renewal and multipotency, cells with high and low aldehyde dehydrogenase1A1 activity, based on the ALDEFLUOR^TM assay, were isolated from prostate clinical specimens and were recombined with rat urogenital sinus mesenchyme to induce prostate gland formation. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Leptin Enhances the Invasive Ability of Glioma Stem-Like Cells Depending on Leptin Receptor Expression
The authors explored the role of leptin during glioma stem-like cells invasion as well as the signaling pathway. They found that glioma stem-like cells exhibited high invasive potential, especially in the presence of leptin, Ob-R coexpressed with CD133 in glioma stem-like cells was showed to be responsible for leptin mediated invasion of glioma stem-like cells. [Brain Res] Abstract

Evaluation of the Expression of Stem Cell Markers in Human Breast Cancer Reveals a Correlation with Clinical Progression and Metastatic Disease in Ductal Carcinoma
Investigators examined the distribution and expression of a panel of stem cell markers in human breast cancer primary tumors. Human breast tissues were processed for immunohistochemistry, and RNA was extracted for analysis by quantitative-PCR. Immunohistochemical assay revealed that CD44 was strongly expressed in background endothelia and epithelia. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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Exceptional Contributions to Cancer Research Cecognized at Cancer Research Conference Awards
The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance announced the recipients of its biennial awards which recognize significant contributions to cancer research in Canada. [CNW Group Ltd] Press Release

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Assistant Professor – Fundamental Mechanisms in Cancer Biology (Cornell University)

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)

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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