Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.43 | Nov 1 2017

TOP STORY

Coding and Noncoding Landscape of Extracellular RNA Released by Human Glioma Stem Cells

Researchers developed a protocol enabling quantitative, minimally biased analysis of extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) associated with microvesicles, exosomes, and ribonucleoproteins. The exRNA complexes isolated from patient-derived glioma stem-like cultures exhibited distinct compositions, with microvesicles most closely reflecting cellular transcriptome. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Induction of Synthetic Lethality in IDH1-Mutated Gliomas through Inhibition of Bcl-xL

Scientists show that in six model systems, including patient-derived stem cell-like glioblastoma cultures, inhibition of Bcl-xL induced significantly more apoptosis in IDH1-mutated cells than in wild-type IDH1 cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

PTEN Is Fundamental for Elimination of Leukemia Stem Cells Mediated by GSK126 Targeting EZH2 in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Investigators showed that pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 by GSK126 not only elicited apoptosis and restricted cell growth in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) bulk leukemia cells, but also decreased leukemia stem cells in CML CD34⁺ cells while sparing those from normal bone marrow CD34⁺ cells. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

NF-kB Promotes Ovarian Tumorigenesis via Classical Pathways Supporting Proliferative Cancer Cells and Alternative Pathways Supporting ALDH⁺ Cancer Stem-Like Cells

The authors showed that in advanced ovarian cancers, NF-kB signaling via the RelB transcription factor supports tumor-initiating cell populations by directly regulating the cancer stem-like associated enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). [Cancer Res] Abstract

A Targetable EGFR-Dependent Tumor-Initiating Program in Breast Cancer

Therapies targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have variable and unpredictable responses in breast cancer. Sorted EGFR^hi subpopulations exhibited enhanced stem-like features, including ALDH activity, sphere-forming efficiency, and tumorigenic and metastatic potential. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Glucocorticoids Promote a Glioma Stem Cell-Like Phenotype and Resistance to Chemotherapy in Human Glioblastoma Primary Cells: Biological and Prognostic Significance

Investigators treated primary human glioblastoma cells with dexamethasone and evaluated glucocorticoid-driven changes in cell morphology, proliferation, migration, gene expression, secretory activity and growth as neurospheres. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

SOX8 Regulates Cancer Stem-Like Properties and Cisplatin-Induced EMT in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Acting on the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Scientists found that SOX8 was upregulated in cisplatin-resistant tongue squamous cell carcinom cells, which displayed CSC-like properties and exhibited epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Flubendazole Overcomes Trastuzumab Resistance by Targeting Cancer Stem-Like Properties and HER2 Signaling in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Researchers investigated the effect of flubendazole on apoptosis, HER2/Akt signaling, breast cancer stem cell-like properties and trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

miR-99a Reveals Two Novel Oncogenic Proteins E2F2 and EMR2 and Represses Stemness in Lung Cancer

The authors identified two novel proteins, E2F transcription factor 2 (E2F2) and EGF-like module-containing, mucin-like, hormone receptor-like 2 (EMR2), downregulated by miR-99a by its direct binding to their 3′-UTR. miR-99a expression prevented cancer cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and repressed the tumorigenic potential of the cancer stem cell population in both these cell lines and mice tumors originated from H1975 cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Nanog-Driven Cell-Reprogramming and Self-Renewal Maintenance in Ptch1^+/− Granule Cell Precursors After Radiation Injury

Investigators found that increased expression levels of pluripotency genes Nanog, Oct4 and Sal4, together with greater clonogenic potential, suggest that radiation induces expansion of the stem-like cell compartment through cell-reprogramming and self-renewal maintenance, and that this mechanism is strongly dependent on Nanog. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Concise Review: Cancer Cells, Cancer Stem Cells, and Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Influence in Cancer Development

The authors discuss recent findings related to conflicting results on the influence of normal and CSCs in cancer development. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

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

Verastem Announces Regulatory Strategy for Duvelisib New Drug Application Following Guidance from FDA

Verastem, Inc. announced that a meeting was held with the FDA regarding the regulatory path for duvelisib, the company’s first-in-class, oral, monotherapy, dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, which is being developed for the treatment of patients with lymphoid malignancies. [Verastem, Inc.] Press Release

Kura Oncology Development Candidate KO-539 Shows Robust Preclinical Anti-Tumor Activity in NPM1- and DNMT3A-Mutant AML

Kura Oncology, Inc. announced new results for KO-539, the company’s potent and selective inhibitor of the menin-MLL protein-protein interaction, which is currently in preclinical development as a potential treatment for patients with genetically-defined subsets of acute leukemias. [Kura Oncology, Inc.] Press Release

Plans to Promote German Research Excellence Come under Fire

Observers questioned whether the 88 selected projects for the The Excellence Initiative represent Germany’s best science, particularly because the focus for selection has shifted away from basic science and towards applied research. [Nature News] Editorial

Six Papers by Disgraced Surgeon Should Be Retracted, Report Concludes

Sweden’s national scientific ethics board, the Expert Group on Misconduct in Research, has concluded that six papers authored by disgraced surgeon Paolo Macchiarini should be retracted. The papers describe the purported clinical success of artificial trachea “seeded” with a patient’s own stem cells. All three patients described in the papers died of complications related to the implant. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Spanish Government Takes Control of Catalonian Universities

The Spanish government has taken over responsibility for higher education and research in Catalonia, following the region’s unilateral declaration of independence. It will retain control of spending on research centres and universities, which the League of European Research Universities says threatens institutional autonomy. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The 2018 World Stem Cell Summit (WSCS)
January 22-26, 2018
Miami, Florida, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Hematopoietic/Leukemic Stem Cell Biology (New York University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Positions – Brain Cancer Biology (University of Copenhagen)

Scientist – Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Stem Cells (Evotec Toulouse)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemia Stem Cells (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Biology (Perelman School of Medicine)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Research (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cell Research (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University)

Director – Stanford Cancer Institute (Stanford University)

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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