Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.32 | Aug 16 2017

TOP STORY

Autophagy-Induced KDR/VEGFR-2 Activation Promotes the Formation of Vasculogenic Mimicry by Glioma Stem Cells

The authors established a three-dimensional collagen scaffold to examine the formation of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and autophagy by glioma stem cells, and found that rapamycin increased the number of VM and enhanced KDR/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) phosphorylation. [Autophagy] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Cyclophilin A Maintains Glioma-Initiating Cell Stemness by Regulating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Researchers demonstrated that cyclophilin A (CypA) promotes glioma-initiating cells stemness, self-renewal, proliferation, and radiotherapy resistance. They found that CypA binds β-catenin and is recruited to Wnt target gene promoters. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

HMGB1 Released by Autophagic Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Maintains the Stemness of Luminal Breast Cancer Cells

The authors found that the presence of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) containing high levels of LC3II, a maker of autophagosomes, was associated with more aggressive luminal human breast cancer. CAFs in human luminal breast cancer tissues with high autophagy activity enriched breast cancer initiating cells with increased tumorigenicity. [J Pathol] Abstract

Nanoemulsion Formulation of a Novel Taxoid DHA-SBT-1214 Inhibits Prostate Cancer Stem Cell-Induced Tumor Growth

Scientists evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion formulation encapsulating DHA-SBT-1214, a novel omega-3 fatty acid conjugated taxoid prodrug, against prostate cancer stem cells. Treatment of PPT2 cells with nanoemulsions of DHA-SBT-1214 induced complete cell death, showing higher efficacy as compared to the drug solution. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Blockade of Stearoyl-CoA-Desaturase 1 Activity Reverts Resistance to Cisplatin in Lung Cancer Stem Cells

Researchers showed that stearoyl-CoA-desaturase 1 expression, either alone or in combination with a variety of CSC markers, correlates with poor prognosis in adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the lung. Treatment of lung ADC cell cultures with cisplatin enhanced the formation of larger 3D tumor spheroids and upregulated CSCs markers. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

HIF1α Regulates Glioma Chemosensitivity through the Transformation between Differentiation and Dedifferentiation in Various Oxygen Levels

The authors hypothesized that glioma stem cells (GSCs) may be induced through dedifferentiation under hypoxic conditions, and hypoxia maintains GSC stemness, which thus leads to resistance to chemotherapy. They investigated whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) regulates the resistance or sensitization of glioma cells to chemotherapy in different oxygen levels. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 Monoclonal Antibody D16F7 Inhibits Invasiveness of Human Glioblastoma and Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Investigators evaluated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) in human glioblastoma (GBM) tissue samples by immunohistochemistry, and in cell lines and GBM stem cells (GSCs) by qRT-PCR and/or western blot analysis. D16F7 reduced migration and invasion of VEGFR-1 positive GBM cell lines and patient-derived GSCs in response to VEGF-A and placental growth factor. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Chronic D609 Treatment Interferes with Cell Cycle and Targets the Expression of Olig2 in Glioma Stem Like Cells

Researchers examined the effect of chronic tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) treatment on glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) cultured in complete medium containing growth factors. Their results showed that chronic exposure of GSCs to D609 decreased the ATP content and reduced the expression of GADD45β protein. [Eur J Pharmacol] Abstract

MRP1 Protein Expression in Leukemic Stem Cells as a Negative Prognostic Marker in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Multicolor flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the expression of multi-drug resistance proteins in blasts and leukemic stem cells. High negative correlation was found between multi-drug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and LRP expression in blasts and the patients remission. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract

Breaching Barriers in Glioblastoma. Part II: Targeted Drug Delivery and Lipid Nanoparticles

The progress of knowledge on the pathogenesis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has allowed identifying the major hurdles for efficient treatment, encompassing biological interfaces, specificities of tumor microenvironment, as well as both bulk and glioma stem cell subpopulations. These findings provided new insights into the molecular basis of GBM, being a strong driving force behind development of targeted nanomedicines in this area. [Int J Pharm] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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

Stanford and Takeda Pharmaceuticals to Collaborate on Medicines of the Future

A new partnership between Stanford and one of the world’s oldest and largest drug makers, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., could help speed up the process of bringing drugs from discovery to market. [Stanford University] Press Release

Curtana Pharmaceuticals Granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation for CT-179 for the Treatment of Gliomas

Curtana Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to CT-179, the company’s lead Olig2 inhibitor for the treatment of gliomas, including glioblastoma in adults and pediatric high grade glioma in children. [Curtana Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

China’s Embrace of Embryo Selection Raises Thorny Questions

Fertility centers are making a massive push to increase preimplantation genetic diagnosis in a bid to eradicate certain diseases. [Nature News] Editorial

Budget Cuts Fuel Frustration among Japan’s Academics

Japan’s premier scientific research institution, RIKEN, turned 100 this year, and celebrated with a grand ceremony attended by the empress and emperor. But not everybody was in the mood to party. In the old days, RIKEN was known as a paradise for scientists because of its generous funding. No longer: as Japan cuts off funds in the face of continuing financial uncertainty, the cracks are starting to show. [Nature News] Editorial

New FDA Security Rules Will Bar Agency from Hiring Some Foreign Nationals

The FDA is moving to adopt a new policy on security background checks that is sowing confusion and alarm among some of its scientists. The change, described in a “communications plan” shared with the agency’s senior staff in recent weeks, appears to effectively bar the agency from hiring—as employees or contractors—foreign nationals who have not lived in the United States for a total of three out of the last five years. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW EACR-MRS: Seed and Soil: In Vivo Models of Metastasis
November 27-29, 2017
Berlin, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Stem Cell Research (University of California, Los Angeles G.O. Discovery Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Tumorigenesis and Stem Cell Biology (Yale University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Cancer Immunotherapeutics (City of Hope)

Assistant Professor – Cell Science (University of Manitoba)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Stem Cells (Duke University Medical Center)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Signaling and Cancer Biology (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

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

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)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cancer Stem Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.