Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.26 | Jul 5 2017

TOP STORY

Stem-Cell Researchers Solve Mystery of Relapse in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Researchers have traced the origins of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia to rare therapy-resistant leukemia stem cells that are already present at diagnosis and before chemotherapy begins. [Press release from University Health Network discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hepatitis C Virus Induced Tumor Initiating Cancer Stem-Like Cells Activate Stromal Fibroblasts in Xenograft Tumor Model

Scientists investigated whether hepatitis C virus induced tumor initiating cancer stem-like cells when implanted into mice activate stromal fibroblasts. [Hepatology] Abstract

cRGD Peptide Installation on Cisplatin-Loaded Nanomedicines Enhances Efficacy against Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Bearing Cancer Stem-Like Cells

The authors found that the CSC subpopulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells overexpresses αvβ5 integrins, which is preferentially expressed in tumor neovasculature and cancer cells, and can be effectively targeted by using cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) peptide. [J Control Release] Abstract

HPI/AMF Inhibition Halts the Development of the Aggressive Phenotype of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

A new highly reproducible procedure for human breast cancer MCF-7 stem cells isolation and selection was developed by using a combination of hypoxia/hypoglycemia plus taxol and adriamycin for 24 hours. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

PHF21B Overexpression Promotes Cancer Stem Cell-Like Traits in Prostate Cancer Cells by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

The authors revealed that PHF21B was markedly upregulated in prostate cancer cell lines and tissues. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies showed that overexpression of PHF21B enhanced, while downregulation suppressed, the cancer stem cell-like phenotype in prostate cancer cells. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

LPS Alters the Immuno-Phenotype of Glioma and Glioma Stem-Like Cells and Induces In Vivo Antitumor Immunity via TLR4

Researchers examined the ability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to affect glioma and glioma stem-like cells in vitro and to induce antitumor immunity in vivo and the role of TLR4 in these processes. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

HA117 Endows HL60 Cells with a Stem-Like Signature by Inhibiting the Degradation of DNMT1 via Its Ability to Down-Regulate Expression of the GGL Domain of RGS6

Investigators demonstrated that all-trans retinoic acid induced multi-drug-resistant subpopulations of HL60 cells with a putative stem-like signature by up-regulating the expression of the new gene segment HA117. [PLoS One] Full Article

HER2 Regulates Cancer Stem-Like Cell Phenotype in ALK Translocated NSCLC

HER2 has been linked to CSLCs in breast cancers and, therefore, scientists assessed whether HER2 has a role in CSLCs in ALK translocated cancers. ALK translocated cell lines, H3122 and H2228, with variable sensitivity to ALK inhibition were used in the study. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Autophagy Plays an Important Role in Stemness Mediation and the Novel Dual Function of EIG121 in Both Autophagy and Stemness Regulation of Endometrial Carcinoma JEC Cells

Higher autophagy level was found in endometrial CSCs and stemness kept in line with autophagy in successive cultured JEC spheres. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The authors focus on the biological features of cancer stem cells and their potential as diagnostic/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma. [J Gastrointest Cancer] Abstract

Specific Depletion of Leukemic Stem Cells: Can MicroRNAs Make the Difference?

Researchers focus on the expression and function of miRNAs expressed in normal and leukemic stem cells that are residing within the acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow. They review their possible prospective as specific targets for anti-leukemic stem cell therapy. [Cancers] Full Article

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

Boston Biomedical Presents Data for Investigational Cancer Stemness Inhibitor Napabucasin in Metastatic Colorectal and Pancreatic Cancer

Boston Biomedical, Inc. featured two oral and two poster presentations evaluating napabucasin in metastatic colorectal cancer and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [Press release from Boston Biomedical, Inc. discussing research presented at European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 19^th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona] Press Release

Phase III Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Adjuvant Opdivo in Resected High-Risk Melanoma Patients Meets Primary Endpoint

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that a Phase III study evaluating Opdivo 3 mg/kg versus Yervoy 10 mg/kg in patients with stage IIIb/c or stage IV melanoma who are at high risk of recurrence following complete surgical resection met its primary endpoint at a planned interim analysis, demonstrating superior recurrence-free survival in patients receiving Opdivo compared to Yervoy. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Merck Provides Further Update on Three Multiple Myeloma Studies Evaluating KEYTRUDA^® (Pembrolizumab) in Combination with Pomalidomide or Lenalidomide

Merck announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed a clinical hold on KEYNOTE-183, KEYNOTE-185 and KEYNOTE-023, three combination studies of KEYTRUDA^® in the blood cancer multiple myeloma. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

BESPONSA^® Approved in the EU for Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Pfizer Inc. announced that the European Commission has approved BESPONSA^® as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory CD22-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

House Lawmakers Balk at Most Trump Science Cuts in Early Bills

No. That’s the first official answer from lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to President Donald Trump’s request to make deep budget cuts at several key science funding agencies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Europe’s Next Big Science-Funding Program Urged to Double Its Budget

Midway through the European Union’s sprawling seven-year, €75-billion research-funding program known as Horizon 2020, scientists are already angling for more money and less red tape in its successor. [Nature News] Editorial

Germany and Poland Launch Research ‘Twinning’ Effort

Germany and Poland are to jointly fund top scientists to start research groups at Polish institutes, in a scheme that could provide a new blueprint for east–west research collaboration in the European Union. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets & Cancer Therapeutics
November 5-9, 2017
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Epithelial Stem Cell Biology (University of Michigan Healthcare System)

Postdoctoral, PhD and Technician Positions – Cancer Metabolism (Université Catholique de Louvain)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell and Developmental Biology (University of Copenhagen)

Research Scientist – Bioinformatics (University of Glasgow)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (UCLA)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Research (UCLA G.O. Discovery Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Epigenetics (University of South Carolina)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (Case Western Reserve University)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Biology (University of Minnesota)

Faculty Positions – Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Sun Yat-Sen University)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Genome Institute of Singapore)

Research Officers – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Genome Institute of Singapore)

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