Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.27 | Jul 16 2014

Surgery-Induced Wound Response Promotes Stem-Like and Tumor-Initiating Features of Breast Cancer Cells, via STAT3 Signaling
Scientists discovered that wound fluids (WF) induced the enrichment of breast cancer cells with stem-like phenotypes, via activation of STAT3. In vitro, WF highly stimulated mammosphere formation and self-renewal of breast cancer cells. In vivo, STAT3 signaling was critical for breast cancer cell tumorigenicity and for the formation of local relapse after surgery. [Oncotarget] Abstract

Autophagy Inhibition Suppresses the Tumorigenic Potential of Cancer Stem Cell Enriched Side Population in Bladder Cancer
Scientists isolated the side population (SP) cells which share characteristics of cancer stem cells from bladder cancer cell lines, T24 and UM-UC-3 by fluorescence activated cell sorting. The cells were cultured in serum free medium and expression profile of stem cell like markers and drug resistant genes and spheroid forming capability were examined in SP, non-side population and bulk T24 and UM-UC-3 cells. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Fe-bLf Nanoformulation Targets Survivin to Kill Colon Cancer Stem Cells and Maintains Absorption of Iron, Calcium and Zinc
Researchers aimed to validate the anticancer efficacy of alginate-enclosed, chitosan-conjugated, calcium phosphate, iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin (Fe-bLf) nanocarriers/nanocapsules with improved sustained release and ability to induce apoptosis by downregulating survivin, as well as cancer stem cells. [Nanomedicine] Abstract | Full Article

Meis1 Regulates Epidermal Stem Cells and Is Required for Skin Tumorigenesis
Scientists uncovered two roles for Meis1 in the epidermis: as a critical regulator of epidermal homeostasis in normal tissues and as a proto-oncogenic factor in neoplastic tissues. [PLoS One] Full Article

Both Canonical and Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Independently Promote Stem Cell Growth in Mammospheres
Ex vivo mammosphere cultures were established from both wild-type and Wnt1 transgenic mice and were analyzed in response to manipulation of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling. An increased level of mammosphere formation was observed in cultures derived from MMTV-Wnt1 versus wild-type animals, and this was blocked by treatment with Dkk1, a selective inhibitor of canonical Wnt signaling. [PLoS One] Full Article

Sphere-Forming-Like Cells (Squamospheres) with Cancer Stem-Like Cell Traits from VX2 Rabbit Buccal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Researchers studied the spheroid cells from VX2 rabbit buccal squamous cell carcinomas and assess their cancer stem cell characteristics. [Int J Oral Sci] Full Article

β-Carotene Inhibits Neuroblastoma Tumorigenesis by Regulating Cell Differentiation and Cancer Cell Stemness
The effects of β-Carotene (BC) on tumor cell differentiation and tumorigenicity was investigated using a xenograft model. BC treatment has been shown to significantly suppress tumor stemness by down-regulating cancer stem cell markers such as Oct 3/4 and DLK1. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Neuregulin-1 Induces Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Researchers showed that neuregulin-1 (NRG1) treatment induced cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics in breast cancer cell lines. Using breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, SKBr-3 and MDA-MB 468, changes related to CSC characteristics were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to analyze changes in CSC fractions in multiple cell lines after NRG1 treatment. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Knockdown of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 by Lentivirus Induces Differentiation of Glioma Stem-Like Cells
Scientists knocked down nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) from glioma stem cells (GSCs) to investigate the role of Nrf2 in the differentiation of GSCs. First, Nrf2 expression was observed at different stages of differentiation; then, Nrf2 was knocked down and the association of Nrf2 with differentiation degree was observed in vitro. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Targeting Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity through Modulation of Epidermal Growth Factor and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
Researchers aimed to establish an in vitro system that recapitulates stem cell plasticity in head and neck squamous cell cancers and identify the factors that play a role in the maintenance and repopulation of cancer stem cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

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Lilly and Immunocore Enter Immunotherapy Agreement to Co-Discover and Co-Develop Novel Cancer Therapies
Eli Lilly and Company and Immunocore Limited announced they have entered into a co-discovery and co-development collaboration to research and potentially develop novel T cell-based cancer therapies. [Eli Lilly and Company] Press Release

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Plans for Third Quarter Submission of a Biologics License Application for Opdivo^® (Nivolumab), an Investigational PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor, for Previously Treated Advanced Melanoma
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that, following discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company is planning a third quarter submission of a biologics licensing application for Opdivo^® (nivolumab) for previously treated advanced melanoma. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

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NEW Product Marketing Manager (Cesca Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genome Editing in Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Study Hereditary Cancer-Associated Mutations (UConn Health Center)

PhD Candidate – Mammary Stem Cell Biology (University of Amsterdam)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (University of California, San Diego)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells and Cancer (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School)

Research Assistant/Research Associate – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (University of North Texas Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

PhD Scholarship – Inorganic Nanoparticles for Cancer Stem Cell Targeting and Detection (The Italian Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center [DKFZ])

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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