Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.00 | Jan 8 2014

CD44 Expressed on Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Is a Functional Molecule Supporting the Stemness and Drug Resistance of Malignant Cancer Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment
Scientists showed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) support tumor growth in vivo and maintain the stemness of cancer stem/initiating cells in an in vitro model using an established CAF cell line. [Stem Cells]
Full Article

Selective Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors of Human DNA Methyltransferases Active in Cancer Including Cancer Stem Cells
Through a process of hit-to-lead optimization, researchers report the discovery of compound 5 as potent non-nucleoside DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, and selective towards other AdoMet-dependent protein methyltransferases. [J Med Chem] Abstract

Elevated Intrinsic Cancer Stem Cell Population in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Because the prognoses of patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are distinct, scientists sought to determine whether differences in the number of cancer stem cells could account for this clinical observation. [Cancer] Abstract

Progesterone Stimulates Progenitor Cells in Normal Human Breast and Breast Cancer Cells
Scientists showed that progesterone stimulates progenitor cells in human breast cancer cell lines and expands the cancer stem cell population via increasing the stem-like CD44+ population. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Syndecan-1 (CD138) Modulates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Stem Cell Properties via Regulation of LRP-6 and IL-6-Mediated STAT3 Signaling
Investigators deciphered the functional impact of Syndecan-1 knockdown using RNA interference on the breast cancer stem cell phenotype of human triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and hormone receptor-positive MCF-7 cells in vitro employing an analytical flow cytometric approach. [PLoS One] Full Article

Constitutive Activation of STAT3 Signaling Regulates hTERT and Promotes Stem Cell-Like Traits in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Scientists demonstrated that STAT3 physically interacts with CD44 and NF-kB and activates the catalytic subunit of telomerase in human breast cancer stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Studies on MicroRNAs that Are Correlated with the Cancer Stem Cells in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
The authors aimed to detect the miRNAs that are correlated with the cancer stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to provide theoretical basis for clinical application. They first analyzed microRNA expression profiles of CML leukemia patients compared with normal controls by microarray analysis and validated the results by real-time PCR. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract

Identification of Novel Human Leukocyte Antigen-A*0201-Restricted, Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitopes on CD133 for Cancer Stem Cell Immunotherapy
Autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells pulsed with the CD133-405 or CD133-753 peptides generated cytotoxic T cells that efficiently recognized the CD133 epitopes presented in T2 HLA-A*0201 cells and specifically lysed CD133⁺ HLA-A*0201⁺ glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med]
Abstract | Press Release

Kinase-Inhibitor-Insensitive Cancer Stem Cells in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
This review focuses on the mechanisms of leukemic stem cells insensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and on the strategies to obtain synthetic lethality with combination therapies. [Exp Opin Biol Ther] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cancer stem cell research field.

Weill Cornell Medical College Receives $75 Million Gift from Sandra and Edward Meyer and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Foundation to Create the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell
Weill Cornell Medical College announced that it has received a $75 million gift from Sandra and Edward Meyer and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Foundation to expand and enhance the medical college’s distinguished cancer research and care programs. [Weill Cornell Medical College] Press Release

From our sponsor: Free mouse hematopoietic progenitors wallchart. Request your copy.

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cancer stem cell community.

NEW Senior Research Scientist – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Aurora Health Care)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and Cancer (Harvard Medical School)

Research Associate – Stem Cell & Leukemia Epigenetic (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Bioengineering (Queensland University of Technology/Translational Research Institute)

Clinical MD – Clinical Development Program for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Chief Medical Officer – Novel Therapeutics in Oncology and Autoimmune Disease (Immunomedics, Inc.)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.