Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 5.42 | Oct 26 2016

TOP STORY

Leukemogenic Effects of Ptpn11 Activating Mutations in the Stem Cell Microenvironment

The authors report that Ptpn11 activating mutations in the mouse bone marrow microenvironment promote the development and progression of myeloproliferative neoplasm through profound detrimental effects on hematopoietic stem cells. [Nature] Abstract

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Natural Killer Cell-Based Adoptive Immunotherapy Eradicates and Drives Differentiation of Chemoresistant Bladder Cancer Stem-Like Cells

Researchers evaluated the therapeutic potential of natural killer (NK) cell-based adoptive immunotherapy against chemoresistant bladder cancer stem-like cells in a pre-clinical relevant model, using NK cells from healthy donors and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients. [BMC Med] Full Article

p53 Deficiency Induces Cancer Stem Cell Pool Expansion in a Mouse Model of Triple-Negative Breast Tumors

K5ΔNβcat transgenic mice present amplification of the basal stem cell pool and develop triple-negative mammary carcinomas. The loss of p53 in K5ΔNβcat mice led to an early expansion of mammary stem/progenitor cells and accelerated the formation of triple-negative tumors. [Oncogene] Abstract

CD133⁺ Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells are Dependent on STAT3 Signaling to Drive Medulloblastoma Recurrence

Scientists showed enrichment of CD133 in Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is associated with increased rate of metastasis and poor clinical outcome. The signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway are selectively activated in CD133⁺ MB stem cells and promote tumorigenesis through regulation of c-MYC, a key genetic driver of Group 3 MB. [Oncogene] Full Article

HULC Cooperates with MALAT1 to Aggravate Liver Cancer Stem Cells Growth through Telomere Repeat-Binding Factor 2

Researchers’ results demonstrate that HULC, MALAT1 and TRF2 are highly expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and HULC plus MALAT1 overexpression drastically promotes the growth of liver cancer stem cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Breast Cancer Stem Cell Potency of Copper(ii) Complexes Bearing Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Their Encapsulation Using Polymeric Nanoparticles

The authors report the cancer stem cell (CSC) potency of a novel series of copper(ii)-phenanthroline complexes bearing nonsteriodial anti-inflammatory drugs: naproxen, tolfenamic acid, and indomethacin (2a-3c). Two of the complexes, 2a and 3c, kill breast CSC-enriched HMLER-shEcad cells to a significantly better extent than salinomycin, a well-established CSC toxin. [Dalton Trans] Abstract

PlGF Knockdown Decreases Tumorigenicity and Stemness Properties of Spheroid Body Cells Derived from Gastric Cancer Cells

Scientists found that isolation of spheroid body cells from MKN-45 and AGS cells without using growth factors is an easy and inexpensive method to isolate cancer stem cells and knockdown of placental growth factor (PlGF) in spheroid body cells reduced in vitro tumorigenicity and stemness properties of spheroid body cells such as self-renewal ability, colony forming, migratory, and MMPs activities and decreased ability to differentiation and angiogenesis. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Interstitial Flow Differentially Increases Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Stem Cell Invasion via CXCR4, CXCL12, and CD44-Mediated Mechanisms

Investigators examined interstitial fluid flow-stimulated CXCR4-, CXCL12-, and CD44-dependent invasion in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Using their 3D in vitro assay and correlative in vivo studies they demonstrated GSC lines show increased invasion with flow. This flow-stimulated invasion was reduced by blockade of CXCR4, CXCL12, and/or CD44, revealing that GSC invasion may be mediated simultaneously by both mechanisms. [Integr Biol (Camb)] Abstract

A Novel Matrine Derivate Inhibits Differentiated Human Hepatoma Cells and Hepatic Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Suppressing PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways

Investigators evaluated the anticancer efficacy of a novel derivative of matrine, (6aS, 10S, 11aR, 11bR, 11cS)-10- methylamino-dodecahydro- 3a,7a-diaza-benzo (de), against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and their corresponding sphere cells in vitro and in vivo. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

Dissecting the Origin of Breast Cancer Subtype Stem Cell and the Potential Mechanism of Malignant Transformation

Investigators identified the putative origin cells of breast cancer subtype stem cells (BCSSCs) through comparing gene signatures between BCSSCs and normal mammary cells from multiple perspectives: common signature, expression consistency, functional similarity and shortest path length. [PLoS One] Full Article

Targeting Deubiquitinating Enzymes in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Expectations and Challenges

The authors attempt to summarize recent studies of glioblastoma-associated deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), their roles in various cellular processes, and discuss the relation between DUBs deregulation and gliomagenesis, especially how DUBs regulate glioma stem cells pluripotency, microenvironment, and resistance of radiation and chemotherapy through core stem-cell transcriptional factors. [Med Res Rev] Abstract

Understanding the Epigenetic Regulation of Tumors and Their Microenvironments: Opportunities and Problems for Epigenetic Therapy

By understanding the impact of epigenetic control on the tumor microenvironment, rational combinatorial epigenetic and checkpoint blockage therapies have potential to harness the immune system for the treatment of cancer. [J Pathol] Abstract

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

Boston Biomedical Initiates CanStem303C: A Global Phase III Study Investigating Cancer Stemness Inhibitor Napabucasin in Patients with Pretreated Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Boston Biomedical announced dosing of the first patient in CanStem303C, a new global Phase III study investigating napabucasin in combination with standard of care in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal carcinoma. [Boston Biomedical] Press Release

New Results Presented for Opdivo (Nivolumab) Demonstrate Encouraging Response Rate in an Expanded Population of Heavily Pre-Treated Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced new results from CheckMate-205, a multi-cohort, single-arm, Phase II trial evaluating Opdivo in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Emulate Announces Translational R&D Collaboration with Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC

Emulate, Inc. announced its strategic collaboration with the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of University of Southern California (USC) to use Emulate’s Organs-on-Chips technology to conduct leading-edge translational R&D that can advance cancer treatment and patient well-being. [Emulate, Inc.] Press Release

Scientific Challenges Loom for Canada’s Popular Prime Minister

Many in Canada’s science community say they are reserving judgement, waiting to see whether Trudeau can sustain his string of victories as he tackles some of country’s thorniest science-policy issues. [Nature News] Editorial

Review Finds Misconduct in Events Surrounding WHO Fetal Growth Study

For the first time in its 68-year history, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that researchers are guilty of research misconduct. An independent review commissioned by WHO has found that “research ethics misconduct occurred” in a multimillion-dollar global study on fetal growth led by researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Two Major California Research Institutes Will Merge

One of the biggest nonprofit biomedical research outfits in the world is getting a new translational medicine research arm, aimed at speeding the conversion of basic research insights into novel medicines. Officials at the Scripps Research Institute announced that it will merge with the California Institute for Biomedical Research, which was launched in 2012 as a nonprofit version of a drug development company. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

To Save Money, NSF Requires University Cost-Sharing for Rotators

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has decided that universities should pay 10% of the salaries of faculty members working temporarily at the agency. NSF hopes the new policy will demonstrate its commitment to saving taxpayer dollars without alienating the academic community that it relies upon to stay on the cutting edge of basic science. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW EMBL-Cancer Core Europe Conference: Cancer Immunotherapy
February 2-4, 2017
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Research Scientist – Epigenetic Mechanisms Involving Histone Deacetylases, Methyltransferases and Demethylases (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Lecturer – Cancer Biology (NUI Galway)

Associate Professor – Experimental Radiation Oncology (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Associate – Plasticity and Cancer (University of Cambridge)

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) – Mechanisms Related to Aging, Cancer and Stem Cell Biology)

Scientific Developer – Computational Systems Biology of Cancer (Institut Curie)

Post-Doctoral Researcher – Influential Nodes and Links in Multi-Level Cancer-Related Networks (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

Two Assistant Professor Positions – Molecular Medicine (University of Georgia)

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 Position – Tumor Immunology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Associate Scientist – Epigenetics of Cancer (Celgene Corporation)

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

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