RGD-Modified Oncolytic Adenovirus Exhibited Potent Cytotoxic Effect on CAR-Negative Bladder Cancer-Initiating Cells Scientists constructed Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-modified oncolytic adenovirus, carrying EGFP or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene, and applied them to coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR)-negative bladder cancer T24 cells and cancer-initiating T24 sphere cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Screening of Aptamers Specific to Colorectal Cancer Cells and Stem Cells by Utilizing On-Chip Cell-SELEX Researchers designed and manufactured a novel microfluidic system capable of performing a fully automated cell-based, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process. Eight colorectal-cancer stem cells/colorectal cancer-specific aptamers were successfully selected using the microfluidic chip. [Sci Rep] Full Article Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) Expression Induced by EGFRvIII Promotes Self-renewal and Tumor Progression of Glioma Stem Cells Investigators showed that epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) induces the expression and secretion of pigment epithelium-derived factor via activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, thereby promoting self-renewal and tumor progression of glioma stem cells. [PLoS Biol] Full Article The HDAC Inhibitors Scriptaid and LBH589 Combined with the Oncolytic Virus Delta24-RGD Exert Enhanced Anti-Tumor Efficacy in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Cells Investigators studied the combination treatment effects of HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) and Delta24-RGD in patient-derived glioblastoma stem-like cells, and they determined the most effective HDACi. [PLoS One] Full Article Mitochondrially Targeted Vitamin E Succinate Efficiently Kills Breast Tumor-Initiating Cells in a Complex II-Dependent Manner The mammosphere model of breast tumor-initiating cells was established by culturing murine NeuTL and human MCF7 cells as spheres. This model was verified by stem cell marker expression, tumor initiation capacity and chemotherapeutic resistance. [BMC Cancer] Full Article Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Regulates Tumor Initiating Cell Properties in Head and Neck Cancers Tiplaxtinin (PAI-039) suppressed the self-renewal capability of head and neck cancers (HNCs)-tumor initiating cells (TICs) derived from HNC cell lines through the inhibition of Sox2 expression. PAI-039 decreased the activity of the core promoter and the enhancer of Sox2 gene in HNC-TICs. [Head Neck-J Sci Spec] Abstract Targeting the Neurokinin-1 Receptor Inhibits Growth of Human Colon Cancer Cells Following neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) blockage, researchers found significant growth inhibition of both colon cancer cell lines. Treatment of colon cancer cells grown under cancer stem cell conditions reduced sphere formation in both number and size after a single treatment period. [Int J Oncol] Abstract The Histone Methyltransferase EZH2 Promotes Mammary Stem and Luminal Progenitor Cell Expansion, Metastasis and Inhibits Estrogen Receptor-Positive Cellular Differentiation in a Model of Basal Breast Cancer Using in vivo transplantation of mammary cancer stem cells transduced with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) or JMJD3 shRNAs, researchers demonstrated that EZH2 promotes mammary stem and luminal progenitor cell expansion, metastasis and inhibits estrogen receptor-positive cellular differentiation. [Oncol Rep] Abstract |