Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.32 | Aug 26 2015

Hyaluronic Acid Engineered Nano-Micelles Loaded with 3, 4-Difluorobenzylidene Curcumin for Targeted Killing of CD44⁺ Stem-Like Pancreatic Cancer Cells
The anticancer activity of 3, 4-difluorobenzylidene curcumin loaded nano-micelles against MiaPaCa-2 and AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells revealed dose-dependent cell killing. Results of cellular internalization further confirmed better uptake of hyaluronic acid engineered nano-micelles in triple-marker positive pancreatic cancer stem-like cells compared with triple-marker negative counterparts. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Mammary Stem Cells and Tumor-Initiating Cells Are More Resistant to Apoptosis and Exhibit Increased DNA Repair Activity in Response to DNA Damage
Scientists investigated the molecular and physiological consequences of DNA damage in wild-type mammary stem cells (MaSCs), p53-null MaSCs, and p53-null TICs. They showed that wild-type MaSCs and basal cells are more resistant to apoptosis and exhibit increased non-homologous end joining activity. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Knockdown of NAT12/NAA30 Reduces Tumorigenic Features of Glioblastoma-Initiating Cells
While decreased expression of the distal 3’UTR of NAT12/NAA30 was generally observed in glioblastoma-initiating cells (GICs) and glioblastomaa (GBMs), this gene was strongly up-regulated at the protein level in GBM and GICs. The increased protein levels were not caused by increased levels of the steady state mRNA but rather by other mechanisms. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Comparative Study of the Effects of PEGylated Interferon-α2a versus 5-Fluorouracil on Cancer Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Investigators evaluated the effects of PEGylated interferon-α2a and 5-fluorouracil on the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers and on specific pathways that contribute to the propagation of CSCs in hepatocellular carcinoma. [Tumour Biol] Abstract

Curcumin Improves the Tumoricidal Effect of Mitomycin C by Suppressing ABCG2 Expression in Stem Cell-Like Breast Cancer Cells
The authors investigated the potential of curcumin to reduce breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) population for sensitizing breast cancer cells to mitomycin C both in vitro and in vivo. [PLoS One] Full Article

Rescue of Targeted Nonstem-Like Cells from Bystander Stem-Like Cells in Human Fibrosarcoma HT1080
Cancer stem-like cells and nonstem-like cancer cells were co-cultured, and defined cell types were chosen and irradiated, respectively, with proton microbeam. The bidirectional rescue effect in the combinations of the two cell types was then investigated. [Radiat Res] Abstract

Pristimerin Inhibits Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis by Targeting PC-3 Stem Cell Characteristics and VEGF-Induced Vasculogenesis of BM-EPCs
The effect of pristimerin on PC-3 stem cell characteristics and metastasis were detected by spheroid formation, CD133 and CD44 protein expression, matrix-gel invasive assay and colony-formation assay in vitro, VEGF and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression by ELISA assay, and tumor tumorigenicity by X-ray and MR in NOD-SCID mice model in vivo. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

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NIH Awards Nearly $34 Million to UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Clinical and Translational Science $33.59 million over four years to continue the center’s programs advancing translational research. [University of Alabama at Birmingham] Press Release

Immatics and MD Anderson Announce Launch of Immatics US, Inc., to Develop Multiple T-Cell and TCR-Based Adoptive Cellular Therapies
Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced the launch of Immatics US, Inc., a new company aiming at becoming a global leader in adoptive cellular therapies for the treatment of a range of tumor types. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center]
Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammalian Stem Cell Model System (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Development and Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer (University College London)

Research Associate – Prostate Cancer (Imperial College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Experimental Oncology/Stem Cell Biology (Academia Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Research (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Brain Tumor Biology and Stem Cells (Universität Basel)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Cancer Research – Molecular Targets for Tumor Therapy (University of Würzburg)

Postdoctoral Positions- Cancer Research (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center)

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