The Tumor Suppressor Prostate Apoptosis Response-4 (Par-4) Is Regulated by Mutant IDH1 and Kills Glioma Stem Cells The selective for apoptosis induction in cancer cells domain within Par-4 was highly active against glioma cells, including orthotopic xenografts of patient-derived primary glioma stem cells. [Acta Neuropathol] Abstract Epigenetic States of Cells of Origin and Tumor Evolution Drive Tumor-Initiating Cell Phenotype and Tumor Heterogeneity Researchers show how activation of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway in neural stem and progenitor cells creates a foundation for tumor cell evolution to heterogeneous states that are histologically indistinguishable but molecularly distinct. [Cancer Res] Abstract Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Upregulates Death Receptors 4 and 5 and Inhibits Proliferation in Human Cancer Stem-Like Cells Researchers examined hitherto unknown effects of the dietary anti-carcinogenic compound phenethyl isothiocyanate on attenuation of proliferation and tumorigenicity and on up regulation of death receptors and apoptosis in human cervical cancer stem cells. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article Targeting Melanocyte and Melanoma Stem Cells by 8-Hydroxy-2-Dipropylaminotetralin Monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone and 8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin were added to melanocytes and melanoma cells to compare cytotoxicity. Stem cell content among viable cells was determined by fluorocytometry using markers CD34, Pax3, and CD271. [Arch Biochem Biophys] Abstract Mechanism of 2′,3′-Dimethoxyflavanone-Induced Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Role of Ubiquitination of Caspase-8 and LC3 2′,3′-Dimethoxyflavanone (2′,3′-DMF) triggered intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis by stimulating the cleavage of PARP and the activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3. Interestingly, 2′,3′-DMF induces a dramatic increase in the conversion of LC3, a well-known marker for autophagy. [Arch Biochem Biophys] Abstract LEF1 Regulates Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Cancer Stem-Like Cell Self-Renewal Scientists show that knockdown of lymphocyte enhancer factor-1 (LEF1), a major transcription factor of Wnt pathway, inhibits U251 cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Furthermore, downregulation of LEF1 expression inhibits the self-renewal capacity of U251 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) stem-like cells and decreases the expression level of the GBM stem-like cell (GSC) markers such as CD133 and nestin. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Lgr5-Positive Cells Are Cancer Stem Cells in Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma Researchers report extremely high Lgr5 levels in the specimen from skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients. Using SCC cell line A431, we detected high Lgr5 and CD133 levels in aldehyde dehydrogenase-high or side population from these cancer cells. [Tumor Biol] Abstract A Stem Cell Medium Containing Neural Stimulating Factor Induces a Pancreatic Cancer Stem-Like Cell-Enriched Population Cancer stem cells are difficult to study because their population is quite low in tumor specimens. To overcome this problem, researchers established a culture method to induce a pancreatic cancer stem-like cell-enriched population from human pancreatic cancer cell lines. [Int J Oncol] Abstract |