IKKβ Enforces a LIN28B/TCF7L2 Positive Feedback Loop that Promotes Cancer Cell Stemness and Metastasis Researchers report that the let7 repressor LIN28B and its regulator IKKβ sustained cancer cell stemness by interacting with the Wnt/TCF7L2 signaling pathway to promote cancer progression. They also found that LIN28B expression correlated with clinical progression and stemness marker expression in breast cancer patients. [Cancer Res] Abstract Expression of miR-200c in Claudin-Low Breast Cancer Alters Stem Cell Functionality, Enhances Chemosensitivity and Reduces Metastatic Potential The authors investigated the role of known epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulators, miR-200 family of microRNAs in controlling the epithelial state, stem-like properties and therapeutic response in an in vivo primary, syngeneic p53null claudin-low tumor model that is normally deficient in miR-200 expression. [Oncogene] Abstract ECM1 Regulates Tumor Metastasis and CSC-Like Property through Stabilization of β-Catenin Scientists detected high extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) level in breast cancer patient sera that was associated with recurrence of tumor. ECM1 regulated the gene expression associated with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition progression and cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance. [Oncogene] Abstract YAP1 Regulates OCT4 Activity and SOX2 Expression to Facilitate Self-Renewal and Vascular Mimicry of Stem-Like Cells Researchers showed that the transcriptional co-activator YAP1, which is the oncogenic component of the Hippo signaling pathway, is elevated in the stem-like cells from non-small cell lung cancer and contributes to their self-renewal and ability to form angiogenic tubules. [Stem Cells] Abstract Evolution and Phenotypic Selection of Cancer Stem Cells Researchers explored orthogonal cell traits, including cell migration to facilitate invasion, spontaneous cell death due to genetic drift after accumulation of irreversible deleterious mutations, symmetric cancer stem cell division that increases the cancer stem cell pool, and telomere length and erosion as a mitotic counter for inherited non-stem cancer cell proliferation potential. [PLoS Comput Biol] Full Article All-Trans Retinoic Acid Downregulates ALDH1-Mediated Stemness and Inhibits Tumor Formation in Ovarian Cancer Cells Scientists showed that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity is positively correlated with stemness in ovarian cancer cells according to measures such as sphere formation and cancer stem-like cell marker expression as well as tumorigenesis in a mouse xenograft model. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract PIK3R1 Negatively Regulates the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Stem-Like Phenotype of Renal Cancer Cells through the AKT/GSK3β/CTNNB1 Signaling Pathway 786-O and A-704 cells with PIK3R1 depletion introduced by CRISPR/Cas9 system displayed enhanced proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and acquired a stem-like phenotype. [Sci Rep] Full Article Autophagy Contributes to the Enrichment and Survival of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells under Oxaliplatin Treatment The authors showed that oxaliplatin-induced autophagy enriched the population of colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) and participated in maintaining the stemness of colorectal CSCs, thus making the cells more resistant to chemotherapy. [Cancer Lett] Abstract CD133+CD44+ Cells Mediate in the Lung Metastasis of Osteosarcoma Scientists identified the CD133+CD44+ cells in lung metastatic lesions and osteosarcoma cell lines, and demonstrated CD133+CD44+ cells were more aggressive in sphere formation, migration and invasiveness compared with CD133+CD44–, CD133–CD44+ or CD133–CD44– cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract EML4-ALK Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Consistent with Cancer Stem Cell Properties in H1299 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Researchers showed that H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer cells stably expressing echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) – anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) acquired EMT phenotype, associated with enhanced invasive migration and increased expression of EMT-inducing transcription factors. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract The p53 Isoform Δ133p53β Promotes Cancer Stem Cell Potential Investigators report that Δ133p53β, a TP53 splice variant, enhanced cancer cell stemness in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while its depletion reduced it. Δ133p53β stimulated the expression of the key pluripotency factors SOX2, OCT3/4, and NANOG. Similarly, in highly metastatic breast cancer cells, aggressiveness was coupled with enhanced cancer stem cell potential and Δ133p53β expression. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article |