Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.46 | Nov 20 2013

SOX2 Regulates Apoptosis through MAP4K4-Survivin Signaling Pathway in Human Lung Cancer Cells
Previous studies have implicated cancer stem cells in tumor recurrence, and revealed that the stem cell gene-SOX2 plays an important role in the tumor cell resistance to apoptosis. Nonetheless, the mechanism by which SOX2 regulates apoptosis signals remained undefined. Investigators demonstrated the surprising finding that silencing of the SOX2 gene effectively induces apoptosis via the activation of death receptor and mitochondrial signaling pathways in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Synergistic Activities of MET/RON Inhibitor BMS-777607 and mTOR Inhibitor AZD8055 to Polyploid Cells Derived from Pancreatic Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers report the synergistic activity of BMS-777607 in combination with mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 in killing chemoresistant pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Asymmetric Segregation of Template DNA Strands in Basal-Like Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Scientists set out to test whether breast cancer cell lines possess the ability to asymmetrically segregate their template DNA strands via non-random chromosome co-segregation, and whether this ability correlates with certain properties attributed to breast cancer stem cells. [Mol Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

MiR-203 Inhibits the Proliferation and Self-Renewal of Esophageal Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Suppressing Stem Renewal Factor Bmi-1
Previously, the authors used side population (SP) sorting to enrich cancer stem-like cells from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line EC9706. Their results demonstrated that EC9706 SP cells shared common features of cancer stem-like cells. In this study, they examined the expression of Bmi-1 and miR-203 in ESCC SP and non-SP cells. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

Interaction of Delta-Like 1 Homolog (Drosophila) with Prohibitins and Its Impact on Tumor Cell Clonogenicity
Previously, the authors found that delta-like 1 homolog (Drosophila) or DLK1, a developmentally regulated gene, plays a critical role in regulation of differentiation, self-renewal, and tumorigenic growth of neuroblastoma cells. Here, they showed that DLK1 specifically interacts with the prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and PHB2, two closely related genes with pleiotropic functions including regulation of mitochondrial function and gene transcription. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Lin28B Is an Oncofetal Circulating Cancer Stem Cell-Like Marker Associated with Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Scientists sought to verify oncofetal-stemness characters of Lin28 homolog B (Lin28B) and test its potential as a circulating cancer stem cell-like marker in adult hepatocellular carcinoma patients. [PLoS One]
Full Article

The Enhanced Metastatic Potential of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Cells with Sorafenib Resistance
The expression of CD44 and CD133 were studied by flow cytometry and the gene expressions of pluripotency factors were studied by qPCR to demonstrate the enrichment of cancer stem cells in sorafenib-resistant cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics, ALDH1 Expression in the Invasive Front of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Researchers investigated the expression of cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in the invasive front of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance. [Virchows Archiv] Abstract

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MultiCell Technologies Files U.S. Patent Application for Targeted Delivery of MCT-485, a Noncoding miRNA for Cancer Treatment
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. has filed a second U.S. patent application concerning methods and formulations to achieve targeted tumor cell death. MCT-485 is a noncoding double stranded micro RNA (miRNA) which has demonstrated oncolytic and immune stimulating activity in in vitro models of hepatocellular carcinoma. [PR Newswire Association LLC] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Research Fellowship – Cancer Biology (Harvard Medical School)

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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)

Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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