Combining a BCL2 Inhibitor with the Retinoid Derivative Fenretinide Targets Melanoma Cells Including Melanoma Initiating Cells Researchers tested whether the combination of ABT-737 with 4-HPR is effective in killing both the bulk of melanoma cells and melanoma initiating cells. The combination synergistically decreased cell viability and caused cell death in multiple melanoma cells lines, but not in normal melanocytes. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract HIF-1alpha Regulates mTOR Signaling and Viability of Prostate Cancer Stem Cells A well characterized murine model of prostate cancer was used to investigate the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in cancer stem cells and a basal stem cell subpopulation was identified, in primary prostate tumors of mice, with elevated HIF-1alpha expression. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract High GINS2 Transcript Level Predicts Poor Prognosis and Correlates with High Histological Grade and Endocrine Therapy Resistance through Mammary Cancer Stem Cells in Breast Cancer Patients GINS2 expression was significantly downregulated under mutated p53-depleted condition in MDA-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells, upregulated in mammary cancer stem cells, and correlated with upregulated genes in mammary stem cells. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract Methods for Detecting Circulating Cancer Stem Cells (CCSCs) as a Novel Approach for Diagnosis of Colon Cancer Relapse/Metastasis Scientists report for the first time the detection of CCSCs in the blood of athymic nude mice, bearing metastatic tumors, and in the blood of patients positive for colonic adenocarcinomas. Using a simple and non-expensive method, they isolated a relatively pure population of CSCs, free of red blood cells and largely free of contaminating CD45+ white blood cells. [Lab Invest] Abstract Hepatoma SK Hep-1 Cells Exhibit Characteristics of Oncogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Highly Metastatic Capacity Researchers demonstrate that SK Hep-1 cells (SK cells) represent a transformation mechanism of normal mesenchymal stem cells into an enhanced self-renewal cancer stem cells (CSC) with metastasis capacity, SK cells and their xenografts represent a same relative homogeneity of CSC with substantial metastatic capacity. [PLoS One] Full Article Bmi1 Regulates Self-Renewal and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer Cells through Nanog Scientists explored the role of Bmi1 in regulating the stemness and drug resistance of breast cancer cells. Bmi1 overexpression in immortalized and transformed breast epithelial cells increased their sphere-forming efficiency, induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition with an increase in the expression of stemness-related genes. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article miR-99a Directly Targets the mTOR Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer Side Population Cells Scientists detected expression of miR-99a in the side population (SP) cells compared to non-SP cells using real-time PCR, and explored effects of miR-99a on the cancer stem cell phenotype of the breast cancer cells, including sphere formation, self-renewal, tumorigenicity and cell migratory capability. [Cell Prolif] Abstract Tight Regulation between Cell Survival and Programmed Cell Death in GBM Stem-Like Cells by EGFR/GSK3b/PP2A Signaling Investigators evaluated the role of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3b) in patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) stem-like cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. [J Neurooncol] Abstract siRNA Targeting Stathmin Inhibits Invasion and Enhances Chemotherapy Sensitivity of Stem Cells Derived from Glioma Cell Lines Researchers isolated glioma stem cells (GSCs) from glioma cell lines U87MG and U251, and then used siRNA targeting stathmin for silencing. They show that silencing of stathmin suppressed the proliferation, increased the apoptosis rate, and arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase in GSCs. [Acta Biochim Biophys Sin] Abstract  |