Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 2.47 | Nov 27 2013

Hypomethylation Signature of Tumor-Initiating Cells Predicts Poor Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer Patients
Investigators analyzed the methylomic profiles of ovarian tumor-initiating cells (CP70sps) and their derived progeny using a human methylation array. qRT-PCR, quantitative methylation-specific PCR, and pyrosequencing were used to verify gene expression and DNA methylation in cancer cell lines. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract

Modeling of Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance via Biomimetic Nano-Cilia and Microfluidics
Learning from the nature of cilia in lungs – clearing mucus and pathogens from the airway – investigators developed a three-dimensional culture approach via flexible and kinetic copolymer-based chains (nano-cilia) for diminishing cell-to-substrate adhesion. Multicellular spheroids or colonies were tested for 3-7 days in a microenvironment consisting of generated cells with properties of putative cancer stem cells. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Hypoxia after Liver Surgery Imposes an Aggressive Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype on Residual Tumor Cells
Hypoxia-induced changes in stem cell and differentiation marker expression, clone-forming potential, and metastatic capacity were assessed. The effect of vascular clamping on cancer stem cell characteristics was performed in mice bearing patient-derived liver metastases. [Ann Surg] Abstract

Prolactin Induces Notch Signaling in a Jak2-STAT and Jak2-ERK Pathways in Colon Cancer Stem and Progenitor Cells
Scientists determined the expression of prolactin and prolactin-receptor (PRLR) in colon cancer tissue and cell lines. Higher levels of PRLR expression were observed in the cancers and cell lines compared to normal colonic epithelial cells. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Integrated Chromosome 19 Transcriptomic and Proteomic Datasets Derived from Glioma Cancer Stem Cell Lines
Researchers performed RNA-Seq, label-free quantitative protein measurements in six glioma-derived cancer stem cell (GSC) lines, and targeted transcriptomic analysis using a chromosome 19-specific microarray in an additional six GSC lines. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Induces Astrocytic Differentiation of Clinically-Derived Oligodendroglioma Propagating Cells
Scientists successfully isolated and propagated glioma stem-like cells from multiple clinical oligodendroglioma specimens. These oligodendroglioma propagating cells are multipotent and form xenografts with oligodendroglioma features. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Cancer Stem-Like Cell Characteristics Induced by EB Virus-Encoded LMP1 Contribute to Radioresistance in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Suppressing the p53-Mediated Apoptosis Pathway
Researchers found that latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) up-regulated the expression of several stemness-related genes, increased the cell number of side population by flow cytometry analysis, enhanced the self-renewal properties of the cells in a spherical culture and enhanced the in vivo tumor initiation ability. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Beta-Catenin/HuR Post-Transcriptional Machinery Governs Cancer Stem Cell Features in Response to Hypoxia
Scientists showed that the onset of hypoxia-induced cancer stem cell features requires the beta-catenin-dependent post-transcriptional up-regulation of CA9 and SNAI2 gene expression. [PLoS One] Full Article

Downregulation of miR-200a Induces EMT Phenotypes and CSC-Like Signatures through Targeting the β-catenin Pathway in Hepatic Oval Cells
By lentivirus-mediated loss-of-function studies, scientists showed that stable knockdown of miR-200a confers a mesenchymal phenotype to WB-F344 cells, including an elongated cell morphology, enhanced cell migration ability and expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-representative markers. Concomitantly, several cancer stem cell (CSC)-like traits appeared in these cells, which exhibit enhanced spheroid-forming capacity, express putative hepatic CSC markers and display superior resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro. [PLoS One] Full Article

Molecular Biomarkers of Cancer Stem/Progenitor Cells Associated with Progression, Metastases and Treatment Resistance of Aggressive Cancers
Recent advances have led to the identification of gene-expression signatures in cancer cells, including cancer stem/progenitor cells, in the primary tumors, exosomes, circulating tumor cells and disseminated cancer cells at distant metastatic sites. [Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev] Abstract

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Novogen Announces that CanTx Drug Destroys Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell Spheroids
Novogen Limited reported that its US subsidiary, CanTx, has found that lead drug candidate Trilexium is highly effective at destroying ovarian cancer spheroid architecture. [Novogen Limited] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Nervous System Development and Tumor Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

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

Research Fellowship – Cancer Biology (Harvard Medical School)

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)

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

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

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