The LIM-Only Transcription Factor LMO2 Determines Tumorigenic and Angiogenic Traits in Glioma Stem Cells The authors investigated the oncogenic roles of Lim domain only 2 (LMO2) in glioblastoma and glioma stem cells (GSCs) in mice and human. High expression of LMO2 was found in human patient-derived GSCs compared with the differentiated progeny cells. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Inhibition of CD47 Effectively Targets Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells via Dual Mechanism The authors studied in vitro and in vivo, the effects of CD47 inhibition on cancer stem cells (CSCs) using a large set of primary pancreatic cancer (stem) cells as well as xenografts of primary human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissue. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract Extracellular Vesicles in the Biology of Brain Tumour Stem Cells – Implications for Inter-Cellular Communication, Therapy and Biomarker Development Glioma stem cells may carry signatures of either proneural or mesenchymal glioblastoma (GBM) subtypes and differ in several biological characteristics that are, at least in part, represented by the output and repertoire of extracellular vesicleproduction (vesiculome). Researchers report that vesiculomes differ between known GBM subtypes [Semin Cell Dev Biol] Abstract Vemurafenib Resistance Selects for Highly Malignant Brain and Lung-Metastasizing Melanoma Cells Researchers identified possible biomarkers associated with the emergence of drug resistant melanoma cells. Resistant cells expressed higher levels of genes coding for cancer stem cell markers, as well as genes involved in drug resistance, cell invasion and promotion of metastasis. [Cancer Lett] Abstract Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) Signaling Promotes Tumorigenicity and Stemness via Activation of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Bladder Cancer Investigators show a role for Shh signaling in the promotion of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, tumorigenicity, and stemness in the bladder cancer. The bladder cancer specific stem cell markers CK5 and CK14 were upregulated in the TGF-β1 treated xenograft tumor samples, while CD44 remained unchanged in both treated and untreated tumors. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract VAV3 Overexpressed in Cancer Stem Cells Is a Poor Prognostic Indicator in Ovarian Cancer Patients A subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) of ovarian carcinoma was isolated and the genes differentially expressed in these cells were identified to characterize CSCs, and to find candidate biomarkers. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Dormancy Activation Mechanism of Oral Cavity Cancer Stem Cells Understanding the mechanisms by which cancer stem cells are maintained in the dormant G0 phase, and how they become active is key to developing new cancer therapies. Scientists found that the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil, acting on the oral squamous cell carcinoma KB cell line, selectively killed proliferating cells while sparing cells in the G0 phase. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Wnt Signaling Regulates the Stemness of Lung Cancer Stem Cells and Its Inhibitors Exert Anticancer Effect on Lung Cancer SPC-A1 Cells The authors explored the role of Wnt signaling in the lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs). They showed that LCSCs were successfully generated as they expressed pluripotent stem cell markers Nanog and Oct 4, and lung distal epithelial markers CCSP and SP-C, by which the phenotype characterization of stem cells can be confirmed. [Med Oncol] Abstract |