Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.09 | Mar 12 2014

Endothelial Cells Promote Stem-Like Phenotype of Glioma Cells through Activating Hedgehog Pathway
Investigators observed that CD133+ glioma stem cells were located closely to Shh+ endothelial cells in the specimens of human primary glioblastoma multiforme. [J Pathol] Abstract | Full Article

p63 Isoforms Regulate Metabolism of Cancer Stem Cells
The authors investigated the cellular signals regulated by p63 isoforms containing (TA) or lacking (ΔN) the N-terminal transactivation domain in a model of epithelial-cancer stem cells. They used colon cancer stem cells, over-expressing either TAp63 or ΔNp63 isoforms, to carry out a proteomic study by chemical labeling approach coupled to network analysis. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

PPARγ and RXR Ligands Disrupt the Inflammatory Cross-Talk in the Hypoxic Breast Cancer Stem Cells Niche
Investigators found that 6-OH-11-O-hydroxyphenanthrene potentiates the ability of pioglitazone to hamper the mammospheres-forming capability of human breast tumors and MCF7 cancer cells, reducing the expression of cancer stem cell regulatory genes. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

The MicroRNA miR-34a Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Growth and the CD44^hi Stem-Like NSCLC Cells
Scientists showed that transfection of synthetic microRNA-34a (miR-34a), but not the negative control miRNA oligonucleotides in three NSCLC cell lines, i.e., A549, H460, and H1299, inhibited their holoclone formation, clonogenic expansion, and tumor regeneration in vivo. [PLoS One] Full Article

Natural Compounds’ Activity against Cancer Stem-Like or Fast-Cycling Melanoma Cells
Investigators analyzed 120 compounds from The Natural Products Set II to identify compounds active against melanoma populations grown in an anchorage-independent manner and enriched with cells exerting self-renewing capacity. [PLoS One] Full Article

Pharmacological Inhibition of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 Modulates Resistance of Human Glioblastoma Stem Cells to Temozolomide
Researchers investigated whether poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors may restore glioblastoma stem cell sensitivity to temozolomide or may be effective as monotherapy. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Thioridazine, an Antipsychotic Drug, Elicits Potent Antitumor Effects in Gastric Cancer
Thioridazine, an antipsychotic drug, has been reported to induce apoptosis in various types of cancer cells, with specificity on targeting cancer stem cells. Investigators examined the ability of thioridazine to induce cell death in the gastric cancer cell lines NCI-N87 and AGS, and detected its in vivo tumor inhibition capacity. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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Timothy J. Barberich Joins Verastem Board of Directors
Verastem, Inc., focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, announced the appointment of Timothy J. Barberich to its Board of Directors. [Verastem, Inc.]
Press Release

Stem Cell Therapeutics Strengthens Its Board of Directors
Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp., an immuno-oncology company developing cancer stem cell-related therapeutics, announced that Mr. Luke Beshar and Dr. Thomas Reynolds have been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. [Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Glioblastoma, Oncolytic Virus and Cell Signaling (Ohio State University)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Bioinformatics (Karolinska Institutet)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Small Cell Lung Cancer Circulating Tumor Cell Derived Explant Tumor Models (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology and Evolution (Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Division (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Signaling and Epigenetics (Fondazione Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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