Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 5.38 | Sep 28 2016

TOP STORY

The Lipolysis Pathway Sustains Normal and Transformed Stem Cells in Adult Drosophila

Scientists investigated stem-cell death in the digestive system of adult Drosophila melanogaster. They found that knockdown of the coat protein complex I–Arf79F complex selectively killed normal and transformed stem cells through necrosis, by attenuating the lipolysis pathway, but spared differentiated cells. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Identification of Keratin 19-Positive Cancer Stem Cells Associating Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

The current lack of tools for easy assessment of cancer stem cells (CSCs) prevents the development of therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They examined whether K19+ HCC-CSCs can be tracked using 18F-FDG-PET. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Inhibition of Hedgehog-Dependent Tumors and Cancer Stem Cells by a Newly Identified Naturally Occurring Chemotype

The chalcone derivative 12 molecule stands as a promising Smo antagonist able to specifically impair the growth of Hh-dependent tumor cells in vitro and in vivo and medulloblastoma stem-like cells and potentially overcome the associated drug resistance. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Cross-Talk between Human Papillomavirus Oncoproteins and Hedgehog Signaling Synergistically Promotes Stemness in Cervical Cancer Cells

The interaction of GLI-signaling with human papillomavirus (HPV) oncogenes is unknown. Researchers examined this relationship in established HPV-positive and HPV-negative cervical cancer cell lines using specific GLI inhibitor, cyclopamine and HPVE6/E7 siRNAs. Cervical cancer cell lines showed variable expression of GLI-signaling components. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CD133⁺CD24^lo Defines a 5-Fluorouracil-Resistant Colon Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotype

Scientists reported that 5-FU treatment selectively enriches a subset of CD133⁺ colon cancer cells in vitro. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Analysis of SOX2-Regulated Transcriptome in Glioma Stem Cells

Investigators present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome controlled by SOX2 in glioma stem-like cells, gaining insights in the understanding of the potential roles of SOX2 in glioblastoma. [PLoS One] Full Article

Long Non-Coding RNAs and Genes Contributing to the Generation of Cancer Stem Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Identified by RNA Sequencing Analysis

Researchers aimed to identify the potential targets that may contribute to the generation of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells from hepatocellular carcinoma cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

A Recombinant Protein TmSm (T34A) Can Inhibit Proliferation and Proapoptosis to Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BCSCs) by Down-Regulating the Expression of Cyclin D1

Scientists explored the effects of TmSm on BCSCs obtained by enriching in serum-free suspension, sorting and characterizing of MCF-7/ADM. They showed that TmSm could not only inhibit the proliferation and growth of BCSCs by decreasing CD44⁺CD24⁻ proportion and down-regulating the expression of Cyclin D1 significantly, but also induce BCSCs apoptosis evidently. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells: A Product of Clonal Evolution?

The authors review evidence suggesting that many aspects of cancer stem cells are more readily described by clonal evolution. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Oncolytic Viruses against Cancer Stem Cells: A Promising Approach for Gastrointestinal Cancer

The authors review the basic knowledge, cancer stem cell (CSCs) markers and therapeutics of gastrointestinal cancer (liver, gastric, colon and pancreatic cancer), as well as research advances and possible molecular mechanisms of various oncolytic viruses against gastrointestinal CSCs. [World J Gastroenterol] Abstract

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

ProNAi Licenses Oncology Drug Targeting DNA Damage Response Checkpoint Kinase 1 (Chk1) from CRT Pioneer Fund, UK

ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has obtained an exclusive license from the CRT Pioneer Fund LP for worldwide rights to develop and commercialize PNT737, a highly selective, orally available, small molecule inhibitor of Checkpoint kinase 1. This molecule has the potential to exploit cancer-driving genetic mutations to achieve synthetic lethality. [ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. Awarded $1.5 Million SBIR Contract for Development of Novel Antibody-Based Therapeutic Against IL1RAP

Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the National Cancer Institute has awarded the Company a $1.5 million Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract to support preclinical development of CSC012-ADC, a novel antibody drug-conjugate to treat acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. [Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Science’s 1%: How Income Inequality Is Getting Worse in Research

Wages for top scientists are shooting skywards while others are being left behind. [Nature News] Editorial

Why Big Pharma Wants to Collect 2 Million Genomes

Five months after announcing its intentions to gather genome sequences from 2 million people, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has selected geneticist David Goldstein to head up the task. [Nature News] Editorial

Encourage Governments to Heed Scientific Advice

The scientific community has seen its policy making influence rise worldwide over the past two decades. Researchers advise on decisions relevant to the scientific enterprise and on key issues from agriculture and environment to security, crime and economic growth. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Novel Concepts in the Biology and Treatment of Metastatic Cancer Conference
November 5-8, 2016
Paphos, Cyprus

NEW 2^nd Cancer Diagnostics
November 7-8, 2016
San Francisco, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Glioma Stem Cell Biology and Cerebral Organoid (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Research, Hematopoiesis, Cancer, Genome Editing (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Cell Division (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Cancer Scientists – Clinical and Translational Breast Cancer Research (Hamad bin Khalifa University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Program Manager (German Cancer Research Center)

Scientific Officer – Peer Review Office (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul cancro)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Laboratory Studies Brain Cancer Stem Cells (Houston Methodist)

Associate Scientist – Epigenetics of Cancer (Celgene Corporation)

Postdoctoral Position – Metastatic Breast Cancer (Purdue Center for Cancer Research)

Core Staff Scientist (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Principal Investigator – Clinical Geneticist in Pediatric Leukemia (Children´s Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung)

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