Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.03 | Jan 29 2014

A Cell-Penetrating Peptide Based on the Interaction between c-Src and Connexin43 Reverses Glioma Stem Cell Phenotype
The authors investigated the mechanism by which Connexin43 (Cx43) exerts its antitumorigenic effects on glioma stem cells. They focused on the tyrosine kinase c-Src, which interacts with the intracellular carboxy tail of Cx43. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

CAF-Secreted Annexin A1 Induces Prostate Cancer Cells to Gain Stem Cell-Like Features
Compared to controls, Annexin A1 enhanced stem cell-like properties in high- and medium expression subpopulations of sorted a tumor cell line and primary cells: in vitro, through formation of greater number of spheroids with increased complexity; and in vivo, through generation of more, larger and histologically complex glandular structures, along with increased expression of p63, a basal/progenitor marker. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

DEspR Roles in Tumor Vasculo-Angiogenesis, Invasiveness, CSC-Survival and Anoikis Resistance: A ‘Common Receptor Coordinator’ Paradigm
Scientists showed that functional analysis of the dual endothelin1/VEGFsignal peptide receptor, DEspR, supports the putative common receptor paradigm in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma selected for their invasiveness, CD133+ cancer stem cells (CSCs), and polar angiogenic features. [PLoS One] Full Article

Heat Shock Protein DNAJB8 Is a Novel Target for Immunotherapy of Colon Cancer-Initiating Cells
Scientists found that a heat shock protein 40 family member, DnaJ homolog, subfamily B, member 8 (DNAJB8), is preferentially expressed in cancer stem-like cells/cancer-initiating cells (CSCs/CICs) derived from colorectal cancer cells rather than in non-CSCs/CICs. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

Survivin-Responsive Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus Kills Rhabdomyosarcoma Stem Cells More Efficiently than Their Progeny
Researchers examined the therapeutic potentials of a survivin-responsive conditionally replicating adenoviruses regulated with multiple factors against rhabdomyosarcoma stem cells, in order to assess its clinical effectiveness and usefulness. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

MicroRNA-300 Promotes Self-Renewal and Inhibits the Differentiation of Glioma Stem-Like Cells
Investigators isolated glioma stem-like cells from glioma biopsy specimens and identified the stemness properties of the cells through neurosphere formation assays, multilineage differentiation ability analysis, and immunofluorescence analysis of glioma stem cell markers. [J Mol Neurosci] Abstract | Full Article

Hsa-miR-520d Induces Hepatoma Cells to Form Normal Liver Tissues via a Stemness-Mediated Process
The human ncRNA gene RGM249 regulates the extent of differentiation of cancer cells and the conversion of 293FT cells to hiPSCs. To identify the factors underlying this process, scientists investigated the effects of lentivirally inducing miR-520d expression in 293FT and HLF cells in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells by Curcumin and Clinical Applications
The authors review the effects of curcumin on cancer stem cell self-renewal pathways and specific microRNAs, as well as its safety and efficacy in recent human studies. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

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California Stem Cell Submits Phase II Clinical Trial Protocol to FDA for Treating Ovarian Cancer
California Stem Cell, Inc. (CSC) announced it has submitted a Phase II protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate CSC’s patient-specific cancer immunotherapy in women with Stage III or IV ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. [California Stem Cell, Inc.]
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NEW Research Assistant – Stem Cell & Leukemia Epigenetic (King’s College London)

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

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