Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.02 | Jan 18 2017

TOP STORY

Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Evade Innate Immune Suppression of Self-Renewal through Reduced TLR4 Expression

Scientists report that self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs) in glioblastoma have low TLR4 expression that allows them to survive by disregarding inflammatory signals. TLR4 signaling suppressed CSC properties by reducing retinoblastoma binding protein 5, which is elevated in CSCs. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Driver Role for GABA Metabolism in Controlling Stem and Proliferative Cell State through GHB Production in Glioma

Combining metabolite measurements, genomic and pharmacological manipulations, in vivo experiments, bioinformatics analyses of independent glioblastoma datasets, and analysis of patients’ tumor tissues, the authors discovered that fluctuation in the levels of 4-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) suffices to switch malignant glioma cell from a proliferative and aggressive behavior to a more differentiated and less aggressive state. [Acta Neuropathol] Full Article

Stress Granule-Associated Protein G3BP2 Regulates Breast Tumor Initiation

Investigators describe a chemical screening strategy to identify small molecules that enhance the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on tumor-initiating cells-enriched breast cancer cells. They identified proteins that interact with the lead compound C108, including the stress granule-associated protein, GTPase-activating protein (SH3 domain)-binding protein 2, G3BP2. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

RAD51 Is a Selective DNA Repair Target to Radiosensitize Glioma Stem Cells

Researchers used clinical samples and patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) to confirm that the double-strand break (DSB) repair protein RAD51 is highly expressed in GSCs, which are reliant on RAD51-dependent DSB repair after radiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Immunomagnetic Separation of Tumor Initiating Cells by Screening Two Surface Markers

The authors propose a new strategy that allows isolation of CD44⁺/CD24⁻ tumor initiating cells (TICs) by immunomagnetic separation involving both magnetic beads coated by anti-CD44 antibody and nonmagnetic beads coated by anti-CD24 antibody. Cells enriched with their approach showed significant enhancement in TIC marker expression and improved tumorsphere formation efficiency. [Sci Rep] Full Article

API5 Confers Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties through the FGF2-NANOG Axis

Researchers demonstrated that apoptosis inhibitor-5 (API5) confers cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties, including NANOG expression, the frequency of CD44-positive cells and sphere-forming capacity. These CSC-like properties mediated by API5 are dependent on FGFR1 signaling, which is triggered by E2F1-dependent FGF2 expression. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Sulforaphane Inhibits Cancer Stem-Like Cell Properties and Cisplatin Resistance through miR-214-Mediated Downregulation of c-MYC in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Scientists report that sulforaphane (SFN), a potent anti-cancer and well-tolerated dietary compound, inhibited cancer stem-like cell properties and enhanced therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin in human non-small cell lung cancer. SFN exerted these functions through upregulation of miR-214, which in turn targets the coding region of c-MYC. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Sinomenine Hydrochloride Inhibits Breast Cancer Metastasis by Attenuating Inflammation-Related Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stemness

The authors found that sinomenine hydrochloride (SH) suppressed the metastasis potential of breast cancer cells. The orthotopic mouse model of 4T1 and the experimental mouse model of MDA-MB-231 cell line expressing firefly luciferase demonstrated that SH treatment inhibited breast cancer metastasis by inhibiting epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell properties without obvious hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Resveratrol Impairs Glioma Stem Cells Proliferation and Motility by Modulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway

Investigators analyzed the effects of Resveratrol exposure on cell viability, proliferation and motility in seven glioma stem cell (GSC) lines isolated from glioblastoma multiforme patients. They investigated Resveratrol impact on Wnt signaling pathway in GSCs, evaluating the expression of seven Wnt signaling pathway-related genes and the protein levels of c-Myc and β-catenin. [PLoS One] Full Article

miR-375 Inhibits Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype and Tamoxifen Resistance by Degrading HOXB3 in Human ER-Positive Breast Cancer

Scientists showed that miR-375 inhibits cancer stem cell (CSC) traits in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Overexpression of HOXB3 induced formation of CSC phenotypes, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tamoxifen-resistance as well as enhanced ability of migration and invasion in MCF-7 cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in Melanoma: There’s Smoke, But Is There Fire?

The plethora of reports ascribing melanoma progression both to CSCs and to tumor heterogeneity and plasticity (or “phenotypic switching”) has left the issue of CSCs in melanoma unsettled. The author discusses arguments both “for” and “against” the concept of CSCs in melanoma and suggests a possible path forward to help resolve these conflicting data. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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

StemTek Therapeutics’ Cell2Sphere^™ Available through tebu-bio

tebu-bio and StemTek Therapeutics announced their agreement for tebu-bio to provide Cell2Sphere^™ to Life Sciences researchers throughout Europe. CELL2SPHERE^™ is a unique, ready-to-use solution for 3D drug compound screening, composed of 96-well plates containing cancer stem cells and media for 3D spheroid generation, which are delivered frozen for long term storage and convenience making them ideal for flexible experimental planning. [being bio-reactive] Blog Post

Xcovery Joins National Cancer Institute (NCI) Formulary to Help Expedite Cancer Clinical Trials

Xcovery announced their participation in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Formulary, a public-private partnership between the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to expedite the use of agents in clinical trials. The partnership, which launched with fifteen targeted agents from six pharmaceutical companies, will seek to alleviate the lengthy process to develop new therapies for patients, and respond to the call for greater collaboration within the industry made by Vice President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative. [Xcovery] Press Release

U.S. Abandons Controversial Consent Proposal on Using Human Research Samples

Federal officials have dropped a controversial plan to impose new rules that researchers say would have made it much harder to use patient blood and tissue samples in research. The final Common Rule omits these provisions, but leaves other changes intact. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Rigorous Replication Effort Succeeds for Just Two of Five Cancer Papers

The first results of a high-profile effort to replicate influential papers in cancer biology are roiling the biomedical community. Of the five studies the project has tackled so far, some involving experimental treatments already in clinical trials, only two could be repeated; one could not, and technical problems stymied the remaining two replication efforts. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ESMO Symposium on Signaling Pathways in Cancer 2017
March 17-18, 2017
Barcelona, Spain

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

NEW Research Associate/Assistant – Leukemia & Stem Cell Biology (King’s College London)

Principal Scientist – Oncology (Janssen)

Postdoctoral Research – Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Brain Cancer Stem Cells (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Tenure Track Faculty – Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (University of Notre Dame)

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (National University of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Viruses & Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Liver Cancer and Developmental Biology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genetics/Epigenetics (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Cycle Control and Tumorigenesis (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Ubiquitin System and Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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