Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.16 | Apr 29 2015

G-CSF Promotes Neuroblastoma Tumorigenicity and Metastasis via STAT3-Dependent Cancer Stem Cell Activation
Researchers demonstrated that the receptor ligand G-CSF selectively activated STAT3 within neuroblastoma cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulations, promoting their expansion in vitro and in vivo. Exogenous G-CSF enhanced tumor growth and metastasis in human xenograft and murine neuroblastoma tumor models.
[Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

TCGA Analysis Predicts MicroRNA for Targeting Cancer Growth and Vascularization in Glioblastoma
MicroRNA (miR)-31 and miR-148a regulated glioma growth by maintaining tumor stem cells and their niche, and providing the tumor a way to activate angiogenesis even in a normoxic environment. [Mol Ther] Abstract

MicroRNA-33b Inhibits Breast Cancer Metastasis by Targeting HMGA2, SALL4 and Twist1
Investigators report the identification of microRNA (miR)-33b as a negative regulator of cell stemness and metastasis in breast cancer. Compared with paired normal breast tissues, miR-33b expression is downregulated in breast tumor samples and is inversely correlated with lymph node metastatic status. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cannabidiol Stimulates Aml-1a-Dependent Glial Differentiation and Inhibits Glioma Stem-Like Cells Proliferation by Inducing Autophagy in a TRPV2-Dependent Manner
The authors demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD), by activating transient receptor potential vanilloid-2 (TRPV2), triggered glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) differentiation activating the autophagic process and inhibited GSCs proliferation and clonogenic capability. CBD and carmustine (BCNU) in combination overcame the high resistance of GSCs to BCNU treatment, by inducing apoptotic cell death. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using a Combination of LBH589 and Salinomycin
Scientists investigated the efficacy of combining a histone deacetylase inhibitor (LBH589) and a breast cancer stem cells-targeting agent (salinomycin) as a novel combination therapy for triple-negative breast cancer. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

EGFR Inhibitors Prevent Induction of Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
EGFR inhibitors, erlotinib and cetuximab, significantly suppressed enrichment of cancer stem cells via TGF-β1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. [Cancer Biol Ther] Abstract

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) Is a Potential Marker for Cancer Stem Cells in Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma
In order to elucidate whether ALDH1 can be used as a marker for cancer stem cells of pediatric sarcoma, researchers examined the characteristics of a population of cells with a high ALDH1 activity in rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. [PLoS One] Full Article

Notch-1 Promotes Stemness and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer
Scientists examined a potential role for Notch-1 signaling in colorectal cancer. Retroviral transduction of constitutively active Notch-1 into the colon tumor cell line HCT-116 resulted in increased expression of the EMT/stemness associated proteins CD44, Slug, Smad-3, and induction of Jagged-1 expression. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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OncoMed Initiates Dosing in Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial of Demcizumab in Pancreatic Cancer Patients
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that dosing has begun in the randomized Phase II clinical trial of demcizumab in patients with first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer. [OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

CPRIT Awards Two New Academic Research Grants
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) awarded two grants through its academic research program. The grants, totaling six million dollars, support the recruitment of two top cancer scientists to academic institutions in Texas, including a promising emerging researcher pursuing her first faculty appointment and an outstanding early-stage researcher. [CPRIT] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (INSERM)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer & Potential Therapies (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Colon Cancer (Baylor Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cell Death of Normal Tissue Stem Cells & Cancer Stem Cells (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer & Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)

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