Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.02 | Jan 21 2015

Twist1 and Snail Link Hedgehog Signaling to Tumor-Initiating Cell-Like Properties and Acquired Chemoresistance Independently of ABC Transporters
Using well-established acquired chemoresistant cancer cells and chemosensitive KB cancer cells with artificially elevated hedgehog (Hh) pathway activity, scientists found that Hh pathway activity may transcriptionally control the expression of twist1 and snail, thereby maintaining the tumor-initiating cell-like properties and consequently the chemoresistant phenotype. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Syngeneic Murine Ovarian Cancer Model Reveals that Ascites Enriches for Ovarian Cancer Stem-Like Cells Expressing Membrane GRP78
Researchers demonstrate that ascites-derived tumor cells from mice injected intraperitoneally with murine ovarian cancer cells (ID8) express increased membrane GRP78 levels compared to ID8 cells from normal culture. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Therapeutic Response and Resistance in Glioblastoma
Using primary glioma stem cells (GSCs), investigators showed that cannabidiol induced a robust increase in reactive oxygen species, which led to the inhibition of cell survival, phosphorylated-AKT, self-renewal and a significant increase in the survival of GSC-bearing mice. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Identification of Molecular Signature of Head and Neck Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Scientists characterized genes that are modulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)- cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and can be targeted in future as potential therapeutics. CSCs were isolated from HNSCC cells and examined for tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Potent Antitumor Activity of Oct4 and Hypoxia Dual-Regulated Oncolytic Adenovirus against Bladder Cancer
Scientists showed that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α and Oct4 were frequently overexpressed in hypoxic bladder cancer cells, and HIF-2α was involved in hypoxia response element-dependent and Oct4 transactivation. [Gene Ther] Abstract

MiR-155 Targets TP53INP1 to Regulate Liver Cancer Stem Cell Acquisition and Self-Renewal
Investigators show that miR-155 expression is up-regulated in tumor spheres. Knock-down of miR-155 resulted in suppression of tumor sphere formation, through a decrease in the proportion of CD90⁺ and CD133⁺ cancer stem cells and in the expression of Oct4, whereas miR-155 overexpression had the opposite effect. [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Disequilibrium of BMP2 Levels in the Breast Stem Cell Niche Launches Epithelial Transformation by Overamplifying BMPR1B Cell Response
Under physiological conditions, BMP2 controlled the maintenance and differentiation of early luminal progenitors, while BMP4 acted on stem cells/myoepithelial progenitors. [Stem Cell Reports]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

EZH2 Protects Glioma Stem Cells from Radiation-Induced Cell Death in a MELK/FOXM1-Dependent Manner
Researchers demonstrate that the catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (EZH2) is targeted by the MELK-FOXM1 complex, which in turn promotes resistance to radiation in glioblastoma-derived tumorigenic stem-like cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Bullseye: Targeting Cancer Stem Cells to Improve the Treatment of Gliomas by Repurposing Disulfiram
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be at the root of cancer recurrence because they resist conventional therapies and subsequently re-initiate tumor cell growth. Thus targeting CSCs could be the bullseye to successful cancer therapeutics in the future. [Stem Cells] Abstract

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Verastem Doses First Patient in Phase I Clinical Trial Evaluating VS-5584 in Combination with VS-6063 in Mesothelioma
Verastem, Inc. announced dosing of the first patient in a new clinical trial evaluating the combination of VS-5584, its dual mTORC1/2 and PI3K inhibitor, in combination with VS-6063, the company’s lead focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, in patients with relapsed mesothelioma. [Verastem, Inc.] Press Release

NeoStem Receives Drug Manufacture License for Irvine Facility
NeoStem, Inc. announced that the State of California’s Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch has completed its review of NeoStem’s manufacturing and control processes at its Irvine, California cGMP facility for the production of eltrapuldencel-T and has issued NeoStem a manufacturing license permitting NeoStem to manufacture drugs from this facility, including the manufacture of eltrapuldencel-T for clinical trial use. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

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Junior Group Leaders – Cell Biology of Cancer and Genomic Instability (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology/Cancer Biology (Oregon Health & Science University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Bioengineering and Cancer Biology (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wnt Signaling in Development and Disease (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation Governing Cancer Cell Behavior (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Functional Genomics of Stem Cells and Cancer (UT Southwestern Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (University of Edinburgh)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Genome Institute of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer and Developmental Biology (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Cancer (Tsinghua University)

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

Principal Investigator – Cancer Biochemist (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.)

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