Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.10 | Mar 19 2014

CD44v8-10 Is a Cancer-Specific Marker for Gastric Cancer Stem Cells
Investigators identified CD44v8-10 as the predominant CD44 variant expressed in gastric cancer cells and verified its role as a gastric cancer stem cell marker by limiting dilution and serial transplantation assays. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Conversion of Differentiated Cancer Cells into Cancer Stem-Like Cells in a Glioblastoma Model after Primary Chemotherapy
In order to understand glioma recurrence post therapy, the authors investigated the behavior of glioma stem cells (GSCs) after primary chemotherapy. They showed that exposure of patient-derived as well as established glioma cell lines to therapeutic doses of temozolomide, the most commonly used antiglioma chemotherapy, consistently increases the GSC pool over time both in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Selective Inhibition of Breast Cancer Stem Cells by Gold Nanorods Mediated Plasmonic Hyperthermia
Researchers report gold nanorods mediated photothermal treatment can selectively eliminate cancer stem cells in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. It significantly reduced the aldehyde dehydrogenase positive cells subpopulation and the mammosphere formation ability of treated cells. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Identification and Characterization of Cancer Stem Cells in Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The authors previously identified a small population of CD24+/CD44+ cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). They examined whether this population of cells may represent cancer stem cells in HNSCC. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

The Selective Aurora-A Kinase Inhibitor MLN8237 (Alisertib) Potently Inhibits Proliferation of Glioblastoma Neurosphere Tumor Stem-Like Cells and Potentiates the Effects of Temozolomide and Ionizing Radiation
Scientists investigated the effect of MLN8237 with and without temozolomide or ionizing radiation on the proliferation of glioblastoma tumor stem-like cells using soft agar colony formation assays and normal human astrocytes by MTT assay. [Cancer Chemother Pharmacol] Abstract

Sulforaphane and TRAIL Induce a Synergistic Elimination of Advanced Prostate Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Investigators examined the effects of sulforaphane and TRAIL on NF-κB activity, self-renewal and differentiation potential, and stem cell signaling via spheroid- and colony-forming assays, FACS and western blot analyses, immunohistochemistry, and an antibody protein array in vitro and after xenotransplantation. [Int J Oncol] Abstract | Download Full Article

Downregulation of VEGF Expression Attenuates Malignant Biological Behavior of C6 Glioma Stem Cells
The authors established C6 glioma stem cells (C6GSCs) from the C6 glioma cells. They suppressed the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of C6GSCs using lentiviral vector-VEGF shRNA. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

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First Patient Enrolled in GenSpera G-202 Phase II Glioblastoma
GenSpera, Inc. announced that the first patient was enrolled in the Phase II clinical trial of its lead compound, G-202, in patients who have glioblastoma multiforme, the most prevalent type of primary brain cancer. [GenSpera, Inc.] Press Release

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