Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.47 | Nov 29 2017

TOP STORY

Interplay between Notch1 and Notch3 Promotes EMT and Tumor Initiation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The authors demonstrated that Notch1 activation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) are coupled to promote squamous cell carcinoma tumor initiation in concert with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β present in the tumor microenvironment. TGFβ drove Notch1-mediated EMT to generate tumor initiating cells characterized by high CD44 expression. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

YAP1 and COX2 Coordinately Regulate Urothelial Cancer Stem-Like Cells

Researchers report that the pro-inflammatory COX2/PGE2 pathway and the YAP1 growth regulatory pathway cooperated to recruit the stem cell factor SOX2 in expanding and sustaining the accumulation of urothelial CSC. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 5A2 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 CSC regulation and investigated its potential molecular mechanisms. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Bufalin Inhibits Cellular Proliferation and Cancer Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes via Upregulation of miR-203 in Glioma

The authors investigated the effect of miR-203 expression and bufalin treatment on glioma cell proliferation and stem cell-like phenotypes. Bufalin treatment inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and CSC phenotypes and increased cell apoptosis and expression of miR-203. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Reduction of NANOG Mediates the Inhibitory Effect of Aspirin on Tumor Growth and Stemness in Colorectal Cancer

Aspirin attenuated colonosphere formation and decreased the ALDH1 positive cell population of colorectal cancer cells. Aspirin inhibited xenograft tumor growth and reduced tumor cells stemness in nude mice. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

SLC34A2 Regulates miR-25-Gsk3β Signaling Pathway to Affect Tumor Progression in Gastric Cancer Stem Cell-Like Cells

Scientists investigated biological function of SLC34A2 in regulating sphere formation and tumorigenicity of gastric cancer stem cell-like cells and its underlying mechanisms. Their findings testified that CD44⁺ cells, which were derived from fresh primary gastric cancer samples and cell lines displayed stem cell-like features. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

Notch Pathway Inhibition Targets Chemoresistant Insulinoma Cancer Stem Cells

Researchers characterized and targeted insulinoma (INS) CSCs in order to develop novel targeted therapies. Highly invasive and tumorigenic human and canine INS CSC-like cells were successfully isolated. [Endocr Relat Cancer] Abstract

Cisplatin Triggers Cancer Stem Cell Enrichment in Platinum-Resistant Cells through NF-κB-TNFα-PIK3CA Loop

Using a transcription factor pull-down assay with PIK3CA promoter, the authors identified NF-κB as a prime regulator, which escalates both TNFα and PIK3CA expression only in CSC enriched side-population, but not in non side-population in platinum resistant ovarian cancer cells upon cisplatin treatment. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

A Distinct Endocytic Mechanism of Functionalized-Silica Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators demonstrated that the uptake of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), particularly amino-functionalized SiNPs, in MCF-7 cells is strongly affected by the actin depolymerization, whereas breast cancer stem cells more strongly inhibit the amino-functionalized SiNP uptake after the scavenger receptor disruption. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Doxycycline Induces Apoptosis via ER Stress Selectively to Cells with a Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties: Importance of Stem Cell Plasticity

Scientists showed that under sphere-forming assay conditions, prostate cancer cells acquired CSC-like properties: promoted mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, expression of characteristic CSC markers and resistance to anticancer agents. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

The Effects of PI3K-Mediated Signaling on Glioblastoma Cell Behavior

Researchers used two distinct pharmacological inhibitors that block signaling at different points of the cascade, namely, GDC-0941, a direct inhibitor of the near apical PI3K, and Rapamycin, which blocks the side arm of the network that is regulated by mTOR complex 1. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Subcellular Localization of the Stem Cell Markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, KLF4 and c-MYC in Cancer: A Review

The stem cell markers octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), NANOG, Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and c-MYC are key factors in inducing pluripotency in somatic cells, and they have been used to detect cancer stem cell subpopulations in a range of cancer types. Recent literature has described the subcellular localization of these markers and their potential implications on cellular function. [J Clin Pathol] Abstract

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

Regen BioPharma, Inc. Begins In Vivo Assessment of Small Molecule Agonists to NR2F6 Nuclear Receptor

Regen BioPharma Inc. initiated in vivo and ex vivo assessments to determine the effects of some of the company’s NR2F6 small molecule agonists in live rats and in tissues derived from humans and rats. The NR2F6 nuclear receptor has been identified as a potentially very important immune cell inhibitor and cancer stem cell differentiator. [Regen BioPharma Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Amphivena Receives Orphan Drug Designation for AMV564, a Novel CD33/CD3 T-Cell Engagement Therapy for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Amphivena Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its lead compound AMV564 for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. [Amphivena Therapeutics Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

China to Roll Back Regulations for Traditional Medicine Despite Safety Concerns

Support for traditional medicine in China goes right to the top. President Xi Jinping has called this type of medicine a “gem” of the country’s scientific heritage and promised to give alternative therapies and Western drugs equal government support. The country is taking dramatic steps to promote these cures even as researchers raise concerns about such treatments. [Nature News] Editorial

United States Bans Most Government Scientists from Travel to Cuba

To celebrate its 80^th anniversary, the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) is throwing a birthday bash: a conference that several U.S. collaborators were planning to attend. All but one has backed out, says IPK virologist María Guadalupe Guzmán. Some, she says, were unsettled by recent claims that U.S. diplomats in Cuba suffered what the Department of State has described as “health attacks.” [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Zimbabwe’s Researchers Hope Political Change Will Revitalize Science

Academics are optimistic that the end of Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian rule could boost research and international collaboration. [Nature News] Editorial

Gene Therapy Hits a Peculiar Roadblock: A Virus Shortage

Eager to speed development of revolutionary treatments, the Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it would expedite approval of experimental gene therapies. But the regulatory process may not be the biggest obstacle. [The New York Times] Editorial

NEW SYStem – Symposium for the Next Generation of Stem Cell Researchers
February 22-24, 2018
Vienna, Austria

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

NEW PhD Student – Stem Cells in Tumor Initiation (German Cancer Research Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells (Queen Mary University of London)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Medulloblastoma and Glioblastoma Multiforme (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Cell Signaling (University of Sussex)

Postdoctoral Positions – 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)

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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