Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 3.48 | Dec 10 2014

SMURF1 Silencing Diminishes a CD44-High Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Two cancer stem cells-like populations, CD44^high/BMI1^high and CD44^high/ALDH^high, were enriched from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and evaluated for the expression of SMURF1 by qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting. [Mol Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Anchorage-Dependent Multicellular Aggregate Formation Induces CD44 High Cancer Stem Cell-Like ATL Cells in an NF-κB- and Vimentin-Dependent Manner
Investigators demonstrate that adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) cells cultured on a layer of epithelial-like feeder cells form anchorage-dependent multicellular aggregates (MCAs) and that a fraction of MCA-forming ATL cells acquire CD44 high cancer stem cell-like phenotypes. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Cell-Surface Vimentin (csVim): A Mislocalized Protein for Isolating csVimentin⁺ CD133^– Novel Stem-Like Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Expressing EMT Markers
Scientists examined the potential of targeting csVim to isolate stem-like cancer cells with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, by using a specific csVim-binding antibody, 84-1. Using this antibody, they purified the csVim positive, CD133-negative cell population from primary liver tumor cell suspensions and characterized for stem cell properties. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Tenascin-C: A Novel Candidate Marker for Cancer Stem Cells in Glioblastoma Identified by Tissue Microarrays
Tenascin-C (TNC) protein has been identified as a potential marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs) in gliomas based on previous work. Scientists investigated the expression of TNC in tissue microarrays including 17 glioblastoma multiforme, 18 WHO grade III astrocytomas, 15 WHO grade II astrocytomas, four WHO gradeastrocytomas and seven normal brain tissue samples by immunohistochemical staining. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Detection of Circulating Tumor Cell Subpopulations in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
Investigators assessed which non-hematopoietic cell types are identifiable and whether their numbers differ in pre- and postoperative blood samples. They observed cells showing stem cell-like features like CD133⁺/CK⁻/CD45⁻ and cells with both epithelial and stem cell-like features such as CD133⁺/CK⁺/CD45⁻. [PLoS One]
Full Article

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Inhibits Nasopharyngeal Cancer Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Migration and Reverses the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via NF-κB p65 Inactivation
Scientists investigated the self-renewal and migration inhibitory effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate toward nasopharyngeal cancer stem cells and clarified its mechanism of activity. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Experimental Research of Host Macrophage Canceration Induced by Glioma Stem Progenitor Cells
Human glioma stem/progenitor cells transfected with red fluorescent protein gene (SU3-RFP) were seeded inside the abdominal cavity of transgenic nude mice, of which all nucleated cells could express green fluorescent protein (GFP), forming a tumor model with a double‑color RFP/GFP fluorescent tracer.
[Mol Med Rep] Abstract | Download Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cancer stem cell research field.

New wallchart from our sponsor:
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (a Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology collaboration). Request your free copy.

Cellectar Biosciences Granted Orphan Designation for I-131-CLR1404 for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Cellectar’s request for orphan drug designation of I-131-CLR1404 for the treatment of multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of plasma cells. [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cancer stem cell community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Cancer (Tsinghua University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Brain Stem Cells and Cancer (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – ER Stress and Cancer Biology (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology and Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Principal Investigator – Cancer Biochemist (Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation (Van Andel Research Institute)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.