Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.47 | Dec 16 2015

Tumor Initiating Cells and IGF/FGF Signaling Contribute to Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Investigators characterized the role of tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) and signaling pathways involved in sorafenib resistance. Sorafenib-acquired resistant tumors showed significant enrichment of T-ICs versus sorafenib-sensitive tumors and non-treated tumors. [Gut] Abstract

A Basal-Like Breast Cancer-Specific Role for SRF–IL6 in YAP-Induced Cancer Stemness
Investigators showed that the serum response factor (SRF)–interleukin (IL)6 axis is the critical mediator of YAP-induced stemness in mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer. Specifically, SRF-mediated binding and recruitment of YAP to mammary stem cell (MaSC) signature-gene promoters induce numerous MaSC signature genes, among which the target IL-6 is critical for YAP-induced stemness. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A Small-Molecule Antagonist of the β-Catenin/TCF4 Interaction Blocks the Self-Renewal of Cancer Stem Cells and Suppresses Tumorigenesis
Researchers found that compound LF3, a 4-thioureido-benzenesulfonamide derivative, robustly inhibited the interaction between beta-catenin and the transcription factor TCF4 required for signal transduction. The self-renewal capacity of cancer stem cells was blocked by LF3 in concentration-dependent manners, as examined by sphere formation of colon and head and neck cancer stem cells under non-adherent conditions. [Cancer Res] Abstract

CBP/Catenin Antagonist Safely Eliminates Drug-Resistant Leukemia-Initiating Cells
Scientists demonstrated that specifically inhibiting the interaction between CREB-binding protein (CBP) and catenin with ICG-001 results in the differentiation of quiescent drug-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia-initiating cells, thereby sensitizing them to BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors, for example, Imatinib. [Oncogene] Abstract

FOXP1 Functions as an Oncogene in Promoting Cancer Stem Cell-Like Characteristics in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Knockdown of Forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) expression in A2780 or SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells decreased spheroid formation, expression of stemness-related genes and epithelial to mesenchymal transition-related genes, cell migration, and resistance to Paclitaxel or Cisplatin treatment, whereas overexpression of FOXP1 in A2780 or SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells increased spheroid formation, expression of stemness-related genes and epithelial to mesenchymal transition-related genes, cell migration, and resistance to Paclitaxel or Cisplatin treatment. [Oncotarget] Full Article

HepG2 Cells Acquire Stem Cell-Like Characteristics after Immune Cell Stimulation
Investigators aimed to examine the relationship between cancer cell stimulation mediated by immune cells and the acquisition of a cancer stem cell-like phenotype. Various stemness characteristics of HepG2 cells, including self-renewal, proliferation, chemoresistance and tumorigenicity were evaluated. [Cell Oncol] Abstract

Downregulation of lncRNA-MALAT1 Affects Proliferation and the Expression of Stemness Markers in Glioma Stem Cell Line SHG139S
The authors aimed to identify the effects of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) on proliferation and the expression of stemness markers on glioma stem cell line SHG139S. They showed that downregulation of MALAT1 suppressed the expression of Sox2 and Nestin which are related to stemness, while downregulation of MALAT1 promoted the proliferation in SHG139S. [Cell Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

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Nemucore Medical Innovations Announces Licensing Agreement with Pfenex Inc. Enabling Manufacture of Anti-Cancer Therapeutic NMI-8000, the Biologically Active Form of Müllerian Inhibitory Substance (MIS)
Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc. announced an agreement with Pfenex Inc. for a non-exclusive license to a production strain derived from Pfenex’s protein production platform, Pfēnex Expression Technology^®, to develop and produce NMI-8000. [Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc. (Globe Newswire, Inc.)] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunotherapy Targeting Cancer Stem Cells (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

Director – Cancer Center (The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center)

Director – Cancer Institute (North Shore-LIJ Health System)

Assistant Member – Radioimmunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Investigator – Cancer Biology (Wake Forest Baptist School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Stem Cell Research (The University of Texas Medical School At Houston)

Faculty Positions – Cancer Pharmacology (Northwestern University)

Group Leader Position – Cancer Research (Oslo University Hospital)

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