Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.07 | Feb 22 2017

TOP STORY

WNT/β-Catenin Directs Self-Renewal Symmetric Cell Division of hTERThigh Prostate Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators report that hTERThigh prostate cancer cells exhibit cancer stem-like cell properties, including a stem cell-associated gene expression signature, long term tumor-propagating capacity and epithelial-to-mensenchymal transition. [Cancer Res] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Cancer Stem Cells Regulate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts via Activation of Hedgehog Signaling in Mammary Gland Tumors

Scientists investigated the interactions between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in mammary gland tumors driven by combined activation of Wnt/β-catenin and Hgf/Met signaling in mouse mammary epithelial cells. In this setting, CSCs secreted the hedgehog ligand SHH, which regulated CAFs via paracrine activation of Hedgehog signaling. [Cancer Res] Abstract

De-Repression of the RAC Activator ELMO1 in Cancer Stem Cells Drives Progression of TGFβ-Deficient Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Transition Zones

Researchers identified a highly tumorigenic cancer stem cell population in a mouse model of transitional epithelial carcinoma and uncovered a mechanism by which loss of TGFβ receptor II mediates invasion and metastasis through de-repression of ELMO1, a RAC-activating guanine exchange factor, specifically in cancer stem cells of transition zone tumors. [eLife] Full Article

Chemotherapy-Induced Ca²⁺ Release Stimulates Breast Cancer Stem Cell Enrichment

The authors found that chemotherapy induces the expression of glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1), which is dependent on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 and HIF-2. Knockdown of GSTO1 expression abrogated carboplatin-induced breast cancer stem cells enrichment, decreased tumor initiation and metastatic capacity, and delayed tumor recurrence after chemotherapy. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

SIRT6 Suppresses Cancer Stem-Like Capacity in Tumors with PI3K Activation Independently of Its Deacetylase Activity

Researchers showed that stem-like traits of specific human cancer cells are reduced by overexpression of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 6 (SIRT6). Tumor metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that SIRT6 overexpression dampens phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling and stem-like characteristics and caused metabolic rearrangements in this cancer model. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Pentraxin-3 Is a PI3K Signaling Target That Promotes Stem Cell–Like Traits in Basal-Like Breast Cancers

Using transcriptomic analysis of activated PIK3CA–expressing basal-like breast cancers cells, investigators identified the gene encoding the humoral pattern recognition molecule pentraxin-3 as a critical target of oncogenic phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. [Sci Signal] Abstract | Podcast

HOXC8 Regulates Self-Renewal, Differentiation and Transformation of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists screened the expression of homeobox genes in mammary stem cells to establish their role in stem cell transformation in breast cancer. They demonstrated altered expression of homeobox genes in breast cancer stem/progenitor cells. HOXC8 was consistently downregulated in stem/progenitor cells of all breast molecular subtypes, thus representing a tumor suppressor candidate. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Inhibition of Cdk5 Induces Cell Death of Tumor-Initiating Cells

In order to understand how Cdk5 inhibition affects tumorsphere formation, researchers identified a role of Cdk5 in detachment-induced cell death: Cdk5 inhibition induced apoptosis in tumorspheres by stabilizing the transcription factor Foxo1 which results in increased levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

POMC Maintains Tumor-Initiating Properties of Tumor Tissue-Derived Long-Term-Cultured Breast Cancer Stem Cells

The authors generated two tumor tissue-derived breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) lines that showed prolonged maintenance over 20 serial passages in vitro, while retaining their tumor-initiating biological properties. They found that inhibition of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) attenuates phosphorylation of AKT2 and GSK3β in BCSC. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

An Integrated Microfluidic Device for Rapid and High-Sensitivity Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells

A rapid and high-sensitivity approach for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection using an integrated microfluidic system, consisting of a deterministic lateral displacement isolating structure, an automatic purifying device with CD45-labeled immunomagnetic beads and a capturing platform coated with rat-tail collagen was reported. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Blockade of Rho-Associated Protein Kinase (ROCK) Inhibits the Contractility and Invasion Potential of Cancer Stem Like Cells

Scientists examined the roles of contractile dynamics of cancer stem like cells (CSCs) in cell invasion and delineated the underlying molecular mechanisms of their distinct cell invasion potential. Using de-adhesion assay and atomic force microscopy, they showed that CSCs derived from melanoma and breast cancer cell lines exhibit increased contractility compared to non-CSCs across all tumor types. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Targeting Autophagy in Cancer Stem Cells as an Anticancer Therapy

The authors review the recent advances in cancer stem cells and autophagy, analyze the complex relationship between them, and hope to apply this new knowledge to the strategies for anticancer therapy. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Tumor-Initiating Cells: A criTICal Review of Isolation Approaches and New Challenges in Targeting Strategies

Researchers discuss the latest developments in isolation and culturing approaches of tumor-initiating cells (TICs), with focus on colorectal cancer. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

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

Boston Biomedical Initiates CanStem111P: A Global Phase III Study Investigating Cancer Stemness Inhibitor Napabucasin in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Boston Biomedical has initiated dosing of the first patient in a new global Phase III study, CanStem111P. The study will investigate napabucasin – an orally administered, first-in-class, investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways by targeting STAT3 – in combination with standard of care in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. [Boston Biomedical] Press Release

Upon Successful Completion of Cohort 3, Cellectar Biosciences Initiates Fourth Cohort of Its Phase I Clinical Trial of CLR 131 in Multiple Myeloma

Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. announced the successful completion of Cohort 3 and initiation of Cohort 4 in the company’s Phase I clinical study of CLR 131 in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Firing of Veteran NIH Scientist Prompts Protests over Publication Ban

At least two dozen junior and senior researchers are stuck in scientific limbo after being barred from publishing data collected over a 25-year period at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab. The unusual ban follows the firing last summer of veteran neurologist Allen Braun by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for what many scientists have told Science are relatively minor, if widespread, violations of his lab’s experimental protocol. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why British Universities Are Unlikely to Accept Invitation to Set up Campuses in France

A consortium of academic institutes near Paris is hoping to lure British universities to create research campuses in France, dangling as bait the possibility of access to European Union research funds after Brexit. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Global Cancer Summit 2017
March 22-24, 2017
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

NEW 2^nd International Conference on Stem Cells
September 27-October 2, 2017
Rhodes, Greece

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cancer/Normal Stem Cells (Johns Hopkins University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Positions – Biomedical Research (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells (Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School)

Principal Investigator – Cancer Research and Oncology Drug Discovery (Southern Research Institute)

Research Fellow – Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (National University of Singapore)

Principal Scientist – Oncology (Janssen)

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

Assistant Professor – Molecular Therapeutics of Cancer (Dartmouth College)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Viruses and Cancer (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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