Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.45 | Nov 15 2017

TOP STORY

Misregulated Protein Breakdown Promotes Leukemias and Brain Cancer

An enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of specific amino acids in food plays a key role in the development of leukemias and brain cancer, scientists reported. They discovered a surprising link between energy metabolism and the so-called “epigenetic code”. These labels in the DNA of cancer stem cells determine the activity of genes and, thus, many cellular functions. [Press release from German Cancer Research Center discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Plexin-B2 Mediates Physiologic and Pathologic Functions of Angiogenin

Researchers showed that plexin-B2 is the functional receptor for angiogenin in endothelial, cancer, neuronal, and normal hematopoietic and leukemic stem and progenitor cells. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Inhibition of TRF1 Telomere Protein Impairs Tumor Initiation and Progression in Glioblastoma Mouse Models and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Investigators found TRF1 upregulation in mouse and human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Brain-specific Trf1 genetic deletion in GBM mouse models inhibited GBM initiation and progression, increasing survival. Trf1 deletion increased telomeric DNA damage and reduced proliferation and stemness. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

RANK Rewires Energy Homeostasis in Lung Cancer Cells and Drives Primary Lung Cancer

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK) rewired energy homeostasis in human and murine lung cancer cells and promoted expansion of lung cancer stem-like cells, which is blocked by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration. [Genes Dev] Abstract | Full Article

TRIM24 Is an Oncogenic Transcriptional Co-Activator of STAT3 in Glioblastoma

The authors determined that non-canonical histone signature acetylated H3 lysine 23-binding protein tripartite motif-containing 24 (TRIM24) is upregulated in clinical glioblastoma specimens and required for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-driven tumorigenesis. In multiple glioma cell lines and patient-derived glioma stem cells, EGFR signaling promoted H3K23 acetylation and association with TRIM24. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Chemotherapy-Induced Depletion of OCT4-Positive Cancer Stem Cells in a Mouse Model of Malignant Testicular Cancer

Investigators developed a mouse testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) model featuring germ cell-specific Kras activation and Pten inactivation. The resulting mice developed malignant, metastatic TGCTs composed of teratoma and embryonal carcinoma, the latter of which exhibited stem cell characteristics, including expression of the pluripotency factor OCT4. [Cell Rep] Full Article

EIF5A2 Contributes to the Maintenance of CD133(+) Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via the c-Myc/microRNA-29b Axis

Scientists demonstrated that eukaryotic initiation factor 5A2 (EIF5A2) might play a crucial role in CSCs regulation and investigated its potential molecular mechanisms. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Carnosol Controls the Human Glioblastoma Stemness Features through the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Modulation and the Induction of Cancer Stem Cell Apoptosis

The effects of carnosol (CAR) on U87MG-derived CSC viability and stemness features were evaluated. CAR decreased the rate of CSC formation and promoted the CSC apoptotic cell death through p53 functional reactivation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Mesenchymal Splice Isoform of CD44 (CD44s) Promotes EMT/Invasion and Imparts Stem-Like Properties to Ovarian Cancer Cells

Overexpression of mesenchymal isoform in ovarian cancer cells induced EMT and invasion, followed by the gain of stem-like characteristics and chemoresistance. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

SOX9 Is a Proliferation and Stem Cell Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Possess Widespread Prognostic Significance in Different Cancer Types

Functional SOX9 knock-down studies using siRNA and cancer stem cell models were generated in a panel of liver and breast cancer cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article

ABC Transporters in Cancer Stem Cells: Beyond Chemoresistance

Scientists outline our current understanding of the role played by ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters in CSCs, how their expression is regulated and how they support the malignant metabolic phenotype. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract

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Medicenna Presents Clinical Data From Previous Phase I and II Clinical Trials of MDNA55

Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. announced that that Dr. Martin Bexon, MD, Head of Clinical Development at Medicenna, will present results from earlier clinical trials. The poster presentation by Dr. Bexon provides an overview of the safety and efficacy results from previous Phase I and II clinical trials of the targeted immunotherapy, MDNA55, in 66 patients with recurrent glioblastoma. [Press release from Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. discussing research presented at the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ (“CPRIT”) Fifth Innovations in Cancer Prevention and Research Conference, Austin] Press Release

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Expands Approval of Sprycel^® (Dasatinib) to Include Treatment of Children with Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced the FDA has expanded the indication for Sprycel^® tablets to include the treatment of children with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Trovagene Announces Activation of First Clinical Trial Site in Phase Ib/II Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Trial for PCM-075

Trovagene, Inc. announced the activation of its clinical trial site for its Phase Ib/II multicenter trial of PCM-075 in patients with AML. [Trovagene, Inc.] Press Release

African Scientists Get Their Own Open-Access Publishing Platform

Africa’s academy of science has announced that it will launch an open-access publishing platform — the first of its kind aimed exclusively at scientists on the continent. [Nature News] Editorial

Graduate Students Face Alarming Tax Hike

The last thing that graduate students need is a tax hike. But that is what many would face under a clause in the federal-tax-reform bill passed by the US House of Representatives. It will need to be reconciled with the Senate’s tax-reform bill (which retains many existing student tax benefits), and signed by the president. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor (CSH): Mouse Development, Stem Cells & Cancer
June 6-25, 2018
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Medulloblastoma and Glioblastoma Multiforme (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Cell Signaling (University of Sussex)

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

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

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)

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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