Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.34 | Aug 30 2017

TOP STORY

Fate Mapping of Human Glioblastoma Reveals an Invariant Stem Cell Hierarchy

Researchers showed that the growth of glioblastoma clones in vivo is consistent with a remarkably neutral process involving a conserved proliferative hierarchy rooted in glioblastoma stem cells. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Prostaglandin E1 and Its Analog Misoprostol Inhibit Human CML Stem Cell Self-Renewal via EP4 Receptor Activation and Repression of AP-1

Using a connectivity map, the authors identified prostaglandin E1 as a small molecule that partly elicited the gene expression changes in leukemic stem cells caused by Tcf1/Lef1 deficiency. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

CD55 Regulates Self-Renewal and Cisplatin Resistance in Endometrioid Tumors

Effective targeting of CSCs requires neutralization of self-renewal and chemoresistance, but these phenotypes are often regulated by distinct molecular mechanisms. Investigators report the ability to target both of these phenotypes via CD55, an intrinsic cell surface complement inhibitor, which was identified in a comparative analysis between CSCs and non-CSCs in endometrioid cancer models. [J Exp Med] Full Article

Effective Treatment of Drug Resistant Recurrent Breast Tumors Harboring Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Staurosporine/Epirubicin Co-Loaded Polymeric Micelles

Scientists studied the ability of polymeric micelles cooperatively loading the cytotoxic drug epirubicin and the CSC inhibitor staurosporine to treat breast tumors, particularly when tumors relapsed after chemotherapy. [J Control Release] Abstract

Role of MEK Partner-1 in Cancer Stemness through MEK/ERK Pathway in Cancerous Neural Stem Cells, Expressing EGFRviii

The authors utilized the EGFRviii mutation, which frequently occurs in brain cancers, to establish another CNSC line, and characterized its stemness under spheroid culture. [Mol Cancer] Full Article

Surface PD-L1, E-Cadherin, CD24, and VEGFR2 as Markers of Epithelial Cancer Stem Cells Associated with Rapid Tumorigenesis

Researchers established one epithelial and two mesenchymal cell lines from ascites of a bladder cancer patient. Analyses of these cell lines demonstrated that the epithelial cells with surface expression of PD-L1, E-cadherin, CD24, and VEGFR2 rapidly formed tumors outside the primary tumor microenvironment in nude mice, exhibited signatures of immune evasion, increased stemness, increased calcium signaling, transformation, and novel E-cadherin–RalBP1 interaction. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Primary Patient-Derived Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Culture Challenges the Association of Cancer Stem Cells with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Scientists established a primary lung cell culture from a patient in a clinically rare and unique situation of primary resistant disease. This culture consisted of two biologically profoundly distinct adenocarcinoma cell subpopulations, which differed phenotypically and genotypically. [Sci Rep] Full Article

miR-221/222 Promote Cancer Stem-Like Cell Properties and Tumor Growth of Breast Cancer via Targeting PTEN and Sustained Akt/NF-κB/COX-2 Activation

Researchers found that miR-221/222 were overexpressed in highly aggressive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, that are enriched in markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition and breast cancer stem cells, than in MCF-7 cells. [Chem Biol Interact] Abstract

miR-217 Targeting DKK1 Promotes Cancer Stem Cell Properties via Activation of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Through real-time PCR, western blotting, luciferase assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and in vitro and in vivo assays, investigators demonstrated that miR-217 expression was markedly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Activation of Matrix Hyaluronan-Mediated CD44 Signaling, Epigenetic Regulation and Chemoresistance in Head and Neck Cancer Stem Cells

The authors present evidence for the existence of a unique small population of CD44v3^highALDH^high-expressing CSCs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. They focused on the role of hyaluronan/CD44-induced oncogenic signaling and histone methyltransferase, DOT1L activities in regulating histone modifications and miRNA activation. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Daiichi Sankyo Announce Research Collaboration to Evaluate Opdivo^® (Nivolumab) and DS-8201 in HER2-Expressing Breast and Bladder Cancers

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited announced a collaborative clinical trial to evaluate the combination of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s immunotherapy Opdivo and Daiichi Sankyo’s investigational antibody drug conjugate DS-8201 in HER2-expressing metastatic breast and urothelial cancers. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

BloodCenter of Wisconsin Launches Breakthrough FDA Approved Leukemia Test

BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s Diagnostic Laboratories is the first to offer testing using Abbott Laboratories’ RealTime IDH2 assay that identifies specific gene mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. [BloodCenter of Wisconsin] Press Release

Science Suffers as China’s Internet Censors Plug Holes in Great Firewall

China is tightening the screws on internet access, again. The latest crackdown—an evolving effort to ban virtual private networks not under government control—could seriously erode scientists’ ability to stay connected with peers abroad. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on the FDA’s New Policy Steps and Enforcement Efforts to Ensure Proper Oversight of Stem Cell Therapies and Regenerative Medicine

In the last few days alone, the FDA has taken steps in Florida and California to address a number of especially troubling products being marketed. But unfortunately, these are examples of a larger pool of actors who claim that their unproven and unsafe products will address a serious disease, but instead put patients at significant risk. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Editorial

FDA Warns US Stem Cell Clinic of Significant Deviations

The FDA posted a warning letter issued to US Stem Cell Clinic of Sunrise, Florida, and its Chief Scientific Officer Kristin Comella for marketing stem cell products without FDA approval and for significant deviations from current good manufacturing practice requirements, including some that could impact the sterility of their products, putting patients at risk. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Editorial

NEW American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)-European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) 2017 Meeting
December 2-6, 2017
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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

NEW Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position(s) – Cancer and/or Glioma Stem Cell Research (Weill Cornell College of Medicine)

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)

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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