Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.45 | Nov 19 2014

Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotype and Survival Are Coordinately Regulated Byakt/FoxO/Bim Pathway
Researchers aimed to determine if elements of the PI3K-AKT pathway are necessary to maintain the cancer stem cell-like phenotype in breast tumor cells and for these cells to survive, bearing in mind that the identification of such elements is likely to be relevant to define future therapeutic targets. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Downregulation of PRRX1 Confers Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Scientists clarified the role of downregulation of paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) expression in predicting prognosis and mediating cancer stem cell-like properties in hepatocellular carcinoma. [Ann Surg Oncol] Abstract

Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Modulate the Stemness and Malignancy of Colon Cancer Cells by Playing Opposite Roles in Canonical Wnt Signaling
Scientists examined the role played by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in malignant phenotype maintenance and canonical Wnt signaling. Under normoxia, they determined that both HIF-1α and HIF-2α are expressed in human colon cancer cells but not in their non-malignant counterparts. [PLoS One] Full Article

Genome-Wide Microarray Expression and Genomic Alterations by Array-CGH Analysis in Neuroblastoma Stem-Like Cells
Researchers enriched the cancer stem cell-like cell population content of two commercial neuroblastoma cell lines by the use of conditioned cell culture media for neurospheres, and compared genomic gains and losses and genome expression by array-CGH and microarray analysis, respectively [PLoS One] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis in Gastric Cancer though Paracrine Cues and Close Physical Contact
Cancer cells acquired an “activated” carcinoma-associated fibroblasts phenotype after being in close contact with mesenchymal stem cells and enhancing tumor metastasis and growth in vivo. Paracrine signals also induced EMT and promoted transwell and trans-endothelial migration, the changes were dependent on β-catenin, MMP-16, snail and twist. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Selective ROS-Dependent p53-Associated Anticancer Effects of the Hypoxoside Derivative Rooperol on Human Teratocarcinomal Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Rooperol selectively inhibited the proliferation of NT2/D1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and had no effect on either normal embryonic fibroblasts which are more restrictive pluripotent stem cells or on NCCIT p53-mutant embryonal carcinoma cells. [Invest New Drugs] Abstract

Identification of OLIG2 as the Most Specific Glioblastoma Stem Cell Marker Starting from Comparative Analysis of Data from Similar DNA Chip Microarray Platforms
Scientists carried out a comparative analysis based on the identification of inter-study concordances to identify the genes that exhibit at best differential levels of expression between glioma stem cell-enriched cell cultures and differentiated tumor cell cultures from independent studies using DNA chip microarray technologies. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

miR-21 Up-Regulation Mediates Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Apoptosis and Proliferation by Targeting FASLG
The expression of microRNA (miR)-21 increased significantly in glioblastoma contrast to normal brain tissue, and miR-21 up-regulated in glioblastoma cancer stem cells (GSCs) remarkably. The proliferation of GSCs cell could be inhibited with high-expression of miR-21 and this effect could be restored by miR-21 knocked down. [Mol Biol Rep] Abstract

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TapImmune Announces Phase II Clinical Trials Collaboration with VGTI Florida to Advance Breast and Ovarian Cancer Vaccines
TapImmune, Inc. announced a new collaborative research agreement with The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida (VGTI Florida) forming a partnership to advance TapImmune’s proprietary cancer vaccines into Phase II human clinical trials for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. [TapImmune, Inc.]
Press Release

Juno’s JCAR015 Leukemia T Cell Therapy Granted Orphan Drug Designation By FDA
Juno Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to its JCAR015 chimeric antigen receptor product candidate. The designation was granted for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [Juno Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

GlycoMimetics Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase I Study of GMI-1271 in Healthy Volunteers
GlycoMimetics, Inc. announced that healthy volunteers in a Phase I clinical study of GMI-1271 tolerated the drug candidate well, and that the pharmacokinetics for the drug candidate were as predicted based on preclinical data. [GlycoMimetics, Inc.] Press Release

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Head of Cellular and Molecular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood & Transplant)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Energy Metabolism and Nutrient Sensing in Cancer Development and Stem Cells (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Position – Intestinal Stem Cell Biology and Gastrointestinal Malignancies (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Gene Regulation in Breast Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (UC College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Leukemic Stem Cells (BC Cancer Agency)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

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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