Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.35 | Sep 10 2014

MYC Activates Stem-Like Cell Potential in Hepatocarcinoma by a p53-Dependent Mechanism
Scientists show that c-MYC expression levels have a differential impact on liver cancer stem cells (CSC) characteristics. At low levels, c-MYC activation led to increased proliferation and enhanced CSC properties including activation of reprogramming transcription factors and CSC marker expression, expansion of side population and acceleration of tumor growth upon subcutaneous transplantation into immunocompromised mice. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Lipid Droplets: A New Player in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells Unveiled by Spectroscopic Imaging
Researchers show that high levels of lipid droplets are a distinctive mark of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in colorectal (CR) cancer. This increased lipid content was clearly revealed by label free Raman spectroscopy and it directly correlates with well-accepted CR-CSCs markers as CD133 and Wnt pathway activity. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Dietary Compound Isoliquiritigenin Targets GRP78 to Chemosensitize Breast Cancer Stem Cells via β-Catenin/ABCG2 Signaling
Researchers investigated the chemosensitizing effects of isoliquiritigenin on breast cancer stem cells and the underlying mechanisms regulating the β-catenin pathway. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

TRPM7 Channels Regulate Glioma Stem Cell through STAT3 and Notch Signaling Pathways
Researchers demonstrate that Notch and STAT3 pathways are down regulated in glioma cells grown in monolayer. Furthermore, phospho-STAT3, Notch target genes and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers were significantly higher in spheroid glioma CSCs when compared with monolayer cultures. [Cell Signal] Abstract

Neurotensin Signaling Regulates Stem-Like Traits of Glioblastoma Stem Cells through Activation of IL-8/CXCR1/STAT3 Pathway
Scientists show that neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) is higher expressed in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) than their non-GSCs counterparts. Pharmacological blockade with SR48692 or lentivirus mediated knockdown of NTSR1 efficiently reduced the sphere-forming ability and expression of stem cell markers such as Nestin and Sox2 in GSCs isolated from glioblastoma cell line and glioblastoma tissues. [Cell Signal] Abstract

A Mathematical-Biological Joint Effort to Investigate the Tumor-Initiating Ability of Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers present a model describing the initial phase of ErbB2⁺ mammary cancer progression, which arises from a joint effort combing mathematical modeling and cancer biology. The proposed model represents a new approach to investigate the cancer stem cells-driven tumorigenesis and to analyze the relations among crucial events involving cancer cell subpopulations. [PLoS One] Full Article

Prominin-1 (CD133) Defines Both Stem and Non-Stem Cell Populations in CNS Development and Gliomas
Using RNA in situ hybridization and antibody tools capable of detecting multiple isoforms of prominin-1 (Prom1), researchers found evidence for two distinct Prom1 cell populations in mouse brain. Prom1 RNA is first expressed in stem/progenitor cells of the ventricular zone in embryonic brain. [PLoS One] Full Article

ABCG2 Regulates the Pattern of Self-Renewing Divisions in Cisplatin-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Researchers demonstrated that ABCG2 is involved in the cell division of drug-resistant cancer cells. They established drug-resistant H460 and A549 cell lines by repeated exposure to cisplatin and found that the expression of ABCG2 in these cell lines was significantly increased. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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MabVax Therapeutics Enters Agreements with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Juno Therapeutics for Development of Anti-Cancer Therapeutics
MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. announced it has entered into agreements with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Juno Therapeutics for the development of novel therapeutic products using antibody targeting sequences derived from the fully-human antibodies discovered using the company’s internally developed antibody discovery platform. [MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.] Press Release

Clinical Trial to Test Safety of Drug Targeting Leukemia Cells
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, in partnership with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Celgene Corporation, a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company, have launched a Phase I human clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel monoclonal antibody for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [University of California, San Diego School of Medicine (Medical Xpress)] Press Release

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

Assistant Professor – Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology (Oregon Health & Science University)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Yale University School of Medicine)

PhD Position – Breast Cancer Stem Cells (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Cell Survival and Proliferation (Washington State University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Therapeutics (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Tenure Track Positions – Cancer Biology (Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)

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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