Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 5.03 | Jan 27 2016

VEGF-A Acts via Neuropilin-1 to Enhance Epidermal Cancer Stem Cell Survival and Formation of Aggressive and Highly Vascularized Tumors
Researchers showed that epidermal cancer stem cell-produced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is required for the maintenance of this phenotype, as knockdown of VEGF-A gene expression or treatment with VEGF-A-inactivating antibody reduces these responses. [Oncogene] Abstract

Inhibition of FOXC2 Restores Epithelial Phenotype and Drug Sensitivity in Prostate Cancer Cells with Stem-Cell Properties
Scientists identified a critical nexus between p38MAPK signaling, and the transcription factor Forkhead Box Protein C2 (FOXC2) known to promote cancer stem-cells and metastasis. [Oncogene] Full Article

Let-7 Modulates Chromatin Configuration and Target Gene Repression through Regulation of the ARID3B Complex
Investigators demonstrated a chromatin-dependent mechanism of let-7 in regulating target gene expression in cancer cells. Let-7 directly represses the expression of AT-rich interacting domain 3B (ARID3B), ARID3A, and importin-9. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Autotaxin Regulates Maintenance of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells through Lysophosphatidic Acid-Mediated Autocrine Mechanism
Researchers isolated cancer stem cells (CSCs) through sphere culture of A2780, SKOV3, OVCAR3 epithelial ovarian cancer cells and primary ovarian cancer cells from patients. They identified heat-stable factors secreted from ovarian CSCs stimulated migration and proliferation of CSCs. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Plumbagin, a Naphthaquinone Derivative Induces Apoptosis and in BRCA 1/2 Defective Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells as Well as Prostate Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Scientists aimed to analyze the molecular changes elicited by plumbagin (PB) and some closely related quinones in BRCA1/2 silenced prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Specific inhibitory effect of PB on PCa Stem-Like Cell population is also revealed in this study. [Pharmacol Res] Abstract

Inhibition of Fatty Acid Synthase Decreases Expression of Stemness Markers in Glioma Stem Cells
Researchers examined the expression and role of fatty acid synthase, a key lipogenic enzyme, in glioma stem cells (GSCs). In the de novo lipid synthesis assay, GSCs exhibited higher lipogenesis than differentiated non-GSCs. [PLoS One] Full Article

Histological Characterization of the Tumorigenic “Peri-Necrotic Niche” Harboring Quiescent Stem-Like Tumor Cells in Glioblastoma
Scientists examined human astrocytoma tissues for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-regulated quiescent stem-like tumor cells as a candidate for long-term tumorigenic cells and characterized their niche histologically. [PLoS One] Full Article

Induction of Protumoral CD11c^high Macrophages by Glioma Cancer Stem Cells through GM-CSF
Using rat C6 glioma side population cells as a model of glioma cancer stem cells (CSCs), investigators showed that CSCs induce tumor-associated macrophages development by promoting survival and differentiation of bone marrow-derived monocytes. [Genes Cells] Abstract

Endocytosis and Serpentine Filopodia Drive Blebbishield-Mediated Resurrection of Apoptotic Cancer Stem Cells
Investigators demonstrated that endocytosis drives serpentine filopodia to construct blebbishields from apoptotic bodies and that a VEGF-VEGFR2-endocytosis-p70S6K axis governs subsequent transformation. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cancer stem cell research field.

BIND Therapeutics Provides Enrollment Update for Phase II iNSITE 1 and iNSITE 2 Trials with BIND-014
BIND Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the iNSITE 1 trial in non-small cell lung cancer with squamous histology is fully enrolled and data is expected to be available by the end of the first quarter of 2016. [BIND Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

From our sponsor: Learn about detecting cancer stem cells with ALDEFLUOR™. Watch the webinar.

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)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cancer stem cell community.

NEW Research Scientist – Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (University of Chicago)

NEW Staff Scientist – Cell Therapy Process Development (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Bioinformatics RNA Biology and Cancer (German Cancer Research Center)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Genetics and Genomics of Stem Cells (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Tenure Track Professorship – Tumor Biology and Signal Transduction (University Medical Center Gottingen)

Professor – Cancer Immunotherapy (Stanford Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Follicular Lymphoma (Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Prostate Cancer Biology (Roswell Park Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell and Molecular Biology of Leukemia (Virginia Commonwealth University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Cleveland Clinic)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.