MicroRNA-205 Signaling Regulates Mammary Stem Cell Fate and Tumorigenesis Knockdown of microRNA-205 in mammary epithelial cells promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, disrupted epithelial cell polarity, and enhanced symmetric division to expand the stem cell population. [J Clin Invest] Full Article Ewing’s Sarcoma Precursors Are Highly Enriched in Embryonic Osteochondrogenic Progenitors Researchers introduced a Ewing’s sarcoma-associated genetic fusion of the genes encoding the RNA-binding protein EWS and the transcription factor ETS (EWS-ETS) into a fraction of cells enriched for osteochondrogenic progenitors derived from the embryonic superficial zone of long bones collected from late gestational murine embryos. EWS-ETS fusions efficiently induced Ewing’s sarcoma-like small round cell sarcoma formation by these cells. [J Clin Invest] Full Article Commensal Bacteria Drive Endogenous Transformation and Tumor Stem Cell Marker Expression through a Bystander Effect The authors proposed that selected commensals polarize colon macrophages to produce endogenous mutagens that initiate chromosomal instability, lead to expression of progenitor and tumor stem cell markers, and drive colorectal cancer through a bystander effect. [Gut] Full Article Hippo Coactivator YAP1 Upregulates SOX9 and Endows Stem-Like Properties to Esophageal Cancer Cells Scientists showed that the transcriptional co-activator YAP1 is a major determinant of cancer stem cell properties in non-transformed cells and in esophageal cancer cells by direct upregulation of SOX9. [Cancer Res] Abstract MicroRNA-128 Suppresses Prostate Cancer by Inhibiting BMI-1 to Inhibit Tumor-Initiating Cells Researchers showed that exogenously introduced microRNA-128 suppresses tumor regeneration in multiple prostate cancer xenograft models. Cancer stem-like cell associated properties were blocked, including holoclone and sphere formation as well as clonogenic survival. [Cancer Res] Abstract Essential Role of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) for the Maintenance of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stem Cells Is Associated with the STAT3 Pathway Researchers elucidated the mechanisms by which lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) are regulated. To explore the function in CSCs they manipulated their expression followed by colony and tumor formation assays. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract Notch1 Stimulation Induces a Vascularization Switch with Pericyte-Like Cell Differentiation of Glioblastoma Stem Cells Scientists have uncovered a close link between the Notch1 pathway and the tumoral vascularization process of Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) stem cells. They observed that although the Notch1 receptor was activated, the typical target proteins were not or barely expressed in two explored GBM stem cell cultures. [Stem Cells] Abstract CT45A1 Acts as a New Proto-Oncogene to Trigger Tumorigenesis and Cancer Metastasis Overexpression of cancer/testis antigen-45 family (CT45)A1 in breast cancer cells markedly upregulated various oncogenic and metastatic genes, constitutively activated ERK and CREB signaling pathways, promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and increased cell stemness, tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis, whereas silencing CT45A1 significantly reduced cancer cell migration and invasion. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Molecular Targeting of TRF2 Suppresses the Growth and Tumorigenesis of Glioblastoma Stem Cells Researchers showed viral vector-mediated delivery of shRNAs targeting telomere repeat-binding factor 2 (TRF2) mRNA depletes TRF2 and repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor from glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) isolated from patient specimens. As a result, GSC proliferation is reduced and the level of proteins normally expressed by postmitotic neurons is increased, suggesting that loss of TRF2 engages a cell differentiation program in the GSCs. [Glia] Abstract miR-145 Regulates Cancer Stem-Like Properties and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Adenocarcinoma-Initiating Cells Researchers report that the expression level of microRNA-145 (miR-145) was downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and negatively correlated with the expression level of Oct4. miR-145 inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer-initiating cells, partially by regulating Oct4 expression. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Heading to ISSCR 2014 in Vancouver? Come Visit Connexon Creative at Booth #507 and Enter to Win $100 Amazon Gift Card! |