Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 5.12 | Mar 30 2016

Hypoxia Induces the Breast Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype by HIF-Dependent and ALKBH5-Mediated m⁶A-Demethylation of NANOG mRNA
Researchers report that exposure of breast cancer cells to hypoxia stimulated hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α- and HIF-2α–dependent expression of AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), an m⁶A demethylase, which demethylated NANOG mRNA, which encodes a pluripotency factor, at an m⁶A residue in the 3′-UTR. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Drug-Eluting Microarrays to Identify Effective Chemotherapeutic Combinations Targeting Patient-Derived Cancer Stem Cells
Scientists have 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] Full Article

Polysome Profiling Links Translational Control to the Radioresponse of Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells
To better understand the processes mediating the response of glioblastoma to ionizing radiation (IR), scientists used polysome profiling to define the IR-induced translatomes of a set of human glioblastoma stem-like cell lines. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Cervical Cancer Stem Cells Selectively Overexpress HPV Oncoprotein E6 that Controls Stemness and Self Renewal through Upregulation of HES1
Researchers examined the role of viral oncoproteins in stem cell signaling and maintenance of stemness in cervical cancer. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

C-Terminal Truncated Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis through Induction of Cancer and Stem Cell-Like Properties
Investigators found C-terminal-truncated hepatitis B virus X promoted the appearance of a CD133 liver cancer stem cells subset and conferred cancer and stem cell-like features in hepatocellular carcinoma. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Characterization of Cervical Cancer Stem Cell-Like Cells: Phenotyping, Stemness, and Human Papilloma Virus Co-Receptor Expression
The authors determined an extended phenotype for cervical cancer stem cells. Their results showed increased CK-17, p63⁺, AII⁺, CD49f⁺ expression in these cells, together with higher aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in cervical cancer stem cells enriched in cervospheres. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Upregulation of Histone Methyltransferase, DOT1L by Matrix Hyaluronan Promotes MicroRNA-10 Expression Leading to Tumor Cell Invasion and Chemoresistance in Cancer Stem Cells from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Researchers determined that human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-derived HSC-3 cells contain a subpopulation of cancer stem cells characterized by a high level of CD44v3 and aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 expression. [J Biol Chem] Full Article | Abstract

ITGA6 Is Directly Regulated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factors and Enriches for Cancer Stem Cell Activity and Invasion in Metastatic Breast Cancer Models
Scientists report that integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6) is a hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent target gene and that high ITGA6 expression enhances invasion and tumor-initiating cell activities in models of metastatic breast cancer. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

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CHOP Oncologist Receives $1 Million Hyundai Quantum Grant to Improve Leukemia Treatment
A physician-researcher at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has received a $1 million Hyundai Quantum Grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to advance treatment for a high-risk form of childhood leukemia. [The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia] Press Release

Immunocore’s IMCgp100 Starts Phase I Trial for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma
Immunocore announced that it has recruited the first patient into a Phase I monotherapy trial of its lead program, IMCgp100, for the treatment of uveal melanoma. [Immunocore] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genomics (The Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast and Ovarian Cancer (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Division of Cancer Biology (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Statistical Methods in Cancer Progression (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Tenure Track Position – Cancer Biology (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Various Projects (University of Cincinnati)

PhD Studentship – Peptide Receptors in Cancer Stem Cells (Exiris/Bielefeld University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (McGill University Health Center)

Translational Research Scientist – Hematology and Oncology (University of Chicago)

Full Professorship – Tumor Immunology (German Cancer Research Center)

Junior Professorship – Imaging and Radiation Oncology (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

PhD Studentship – Various Positions in Cancer (Virginia Commonwealth University)

Faculty Position – Cancer Research (Various Areas) (The Jackson Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Epigenomics (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)

Faculty Position – Radioimmunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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

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