Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.25 | Jul 8 2015

Drug-Eluting Microarrays to Identify Effective Chemotherapeutic Combinations Targeting Patient-Derived Cancer Stem Cells
To address the challenge of screening drug libraries on patient-derived populations of rare cells, such as cancer stem cells, investigators developed a drug-eluting microarray, a miniaturized platform onto which a minimal quantity of cells can adhere and be exposed to unique treatment conditions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Press Release

Epigenetic Activation of TWIST1 by MTDH Promotes Cancer Stem-Like Cell Traits in Breast Cancer
Scientists report that metadherin (MTDH) drives cancer stem cell expansion by promoting the expression of TWIST1, a transcription factor critical for cancer cell stemness and metastasis. [Cancer Res] Abstract

IL6/JAK1/STAT3 Signaling Blockade in Endometrial Cancer Affects the ALDH^HICD126⁺-Like Component and Reduces Tumor Burden
Researchers hypothesized that high level of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity in a tumor might positively correlates with the presence of stem- and progenitor-like tumor cells in the disease setting of solid and hematopoietic cancers. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Cytomegalovirus Infection Induces a Stem Cell Phenotype in Human Primary Glioblastoma Cells: Prognostic Significance and Biological Impact
Scientists investigated the relation between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of glioblastoma (GBM) cells and the presence of glioma cancer stem cells (GSCs). Infection of GBM cells with HCMV led to upregulation of CD133 and other GCS markers (Notch1, Sox2, Oct4, Nestin). [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

mPGES-1 in Prostate Cancer Controls Stemness and Amplifies EGFR-Driven Oncogenicity
Researchers investigated whether expression of intrinsic microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enhanced aggressiveness of prostate cancer cells and might be critical for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated tumor progression. DU145 and PC-3 cell lines expressing mPGES-1 expressed stem-cell-like features as well as mesenchymal transition markers. [Endocr-Relat Cancer] Abstract

Metabolic Stress Induces a Wnt-Dependent Cancer Stem Cell-Like State Transition
Scientists demonstrated that chronic metabolic stress in a long-term nutrient deprivation induces a Wnt-dependent phenoconversion of non-stem cancer cells toward stem-like state and this is reflected in the transcriptome analysis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Identification of Thiostrepton as a Novel Therapeutic Agent that Targets Human Colon Cancer Stem Cells
The authors investigated thiostrepton’s inhibitory effects on the sphere- and colony-forming capabilities of colorectal cancer cell lines. The in vitro inhibition of sphere and colony formation was associated with downregulation of various modulators of the stem cell phenotype. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

BMP-2 Induces Motility and Invasiveness by Promoting Colon Cancer Stemness through STAT3 Activation
Researchers investigated the role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 in colon cancer stem cell (CSC) development from colon cancer cells. They also determined the effects of BMP-2 on CSC development and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and SW620. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Cardamonin Induces Apoptosis by Suppressing STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Scientists investigated the effects of cardamonin (3,4,2,4-tetrahydroxychalcone) on the self-renewal and apoptosis of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), and if its action was associated with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Effective Treatment of Glioblastoma Requires Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier and Targeting Tumors including Cancer Stem Cells: The Promise of Nanomedicine
The authors examine the current nanomedicine approaches for targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their therapeutic implications. The inhibitory effect of various nanoparticle-based drug delivery system towards CSCs in glioblastoma multiforme tumors is the primary focus of this review. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

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Glycotope Biotechnology and Cantargia Sign Production Agreement for Lead Product Candidate CAN04
Cantargia AB and Glycotope Biotechnology GmbH announced an agreement on the production of Cantargia’s proprietary monoclonal antibody CAN04. The product candidate CAN04 is directed against the target molecule IL1RAP, expressed on cancer stem cells as well on mature cancer cells. [Cantargia AB] Press Release

Celgene and Juno Announce Ten-Year Collaboration to Advance Potentially Groundbreaking Immunotherapies for Patients with Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases
Celgene Corporation and Juno Therapeutics, Inc. announced a global collaboration for the development and commercialization of immunotherapies. The two companies will leverage T cell therapeutic strategies to develop treatments for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases with an initial focus on chimeric antigen receptor technology and T cell receptor technologies. [Juno Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Ludwig Cancer Research and the Cancer Research Institute Evaluate Immunotherapies
Ludwig Cancer Research and the Cancer Research Institute have launched clinical trials evaluating an immunotherapy for the treatment of the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme, and a combination of immunotherapies for a variety of solid tumors. [Ludwig Cancer Research] Press Release

Cancer Research UK Invests £15 Million in New Major Centers
Cancer Research UK launched major centers in Oxford, Manchester and Cambridge, with each receiving £5 million to boost their work in personalized cancer medicine and early detection research. [Cancer Research UK] Press Release

OHSU Sets Fundraising Record by Meeting $1 Billion Challenge from Nike Co-Founder and Wife
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) announced it met Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny’s $1 billion challenge by raising $500 million in less than two years to earn the Knights’ matching gift and set a fundraising record. [Oregon Health & Science University] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowships – Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

PhD Position – Anti-Cancer Nano-Particle Drug Testing: Cell Pathways and Cytotoxicity (University of Southern Denmark)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy (University of California, Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer Immunotherapeutics (City of Hope)

Professor – Cancer Stem Cells (Dalian Medical University)

Research Technician (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer, Stem Cell, and Developmental Biology (Columbia University Medical Center)

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