Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 5.14 | Apr 15 2016

GPR56 Contributes to the Development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Mice
The G-protein coupled receptor 56 (GPR56) was identified as part of the molecular signature of functionally validated leukemic stem cells isolated from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Functional relevance of GPR56 expression was validated in mice, in which co-expression of Gpr56 significantly accelerated Hoxa9 induced leukemogenesis and vice versa knockdown of Gpr56 delayed onset of Hoxa9/Meis1 induced AML. [Leukemia] Abstract

Defining a Population of Stem-Like Human Prostate Cancer Cells that Can Generate and Propagate Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)
Scientists showed that the ALDH^hiCD44⁺α2β1⁺ cells are cancer stem cells with both tumor-initiating and tumor-propagating abilities for CRPC. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

MicroRNA-452 Promotes Stem-Like Cells of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting Sox7 Involving Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
The authors enriched stem-like hepatocellular carcinoma cells by serial passages of hepatospheres with chemotherapeutic agents. Stem-like characteristics including the capabilities of chemo-resistance, stemness-related gene expression profiling, self-renewal, tumorigenicity and metastasis formation were detected. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Autophagy Inhibitor Chloroquine Targets Cancer Stem Cells in Triple Negative Breast Cancer by Inducing Mitochondrial Damage and Impairing DNA Break Repair
Researchers demonstrated that chloroquine effectively targets cancer stem cells via autophagy inhibition, mitochondrial structural damage, and impairment of double-stranded DNA break repair. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

FOXC2 Regulates the G2/M Transition of Stem Cell-Rich Breast Cancer Cells and Sensitizes Them to PLK1 Inhibition
The authors identified a novel role for the transcription factor FOXC2, which is mostly expressed in cancer cells with stem cell properties (CSCs), in the regulation of cell cycle of CSC-enriched breast cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Loss of CSL Unlocks a Hypoxic Response and Enhanced Tumor Growth Potential in Breast Cancer Cells
Scientists report that genetic removal of CSL in breast tumor cells caused accelerated growth of xenografted tumors. Loss of CSL unleashed a hypoxic response during normoxic conditions, manifested by stabilization of the HIF1α protein and acquisition of a polyploid giant-cell, cancer stem cell-like, phenotype. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Generation of Novel Thyroid Cancer Stem-Like Cell Clones: Effects of Resveratrol and Valproic Acid
Investigators characterized cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in thyroid carcinomas and generated clones of CSC lines. They showed that anaplastic thyroid cancers had significantly more CSCs than well-differentiated thyroid cancers. [Am J Pathol] Abstract

Selective AKT Inhibition by MK-2206 Represses Colorectal Cancer-Initiating Stem Cells
Researchers aimed to gain insight into tumor-initiating cells (TICs) biology by comparing the transcriptome of primary TIC cultures and their normal stem cell counterparts to uncover expression differences. [Ann Surg Oncol] Full Article

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AbbVie Receives FDA Accelerated Approval of Venclexta™ (Venetoclax) Tablets
AbbVie announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Venclexta™ (venetoclax) tablets for patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with 17p deletion, as detected by an FDA-approved test, who have received at least one prior therapy. [AbbVie] Press Release

Regeneron and Intellia Therapeutics Announce Collaboration to Discover and Develop CRISPR/Cas Therapeutics
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. announced a licensing and collaboration agreement to advance CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology for in vivo therapeutic development. [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] 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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NEW Senior Scientist – Immune-Oncology (PTM Biolabs Inc.)

NEW Research Technician – Nutrition and Cancer (St. Anne’s University Hospital)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Research (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)

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

Director – Cancer Genomics (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research)

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

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

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

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)

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

Faculty Position – Radioimmunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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

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