Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.48 | Dec 6 2017

TOP STORY

Vulnerability Identified for Subtypes of Glioblastoma

Researchers identified a strategy that pinpoints a genetically distinct subpopulation of patients with glioblastoma that is particularly sensitive to drugs like cilengitide that target a cell adhesion receptor known as integrin αvβ3. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hypoxic Induction of Vasorin Regulates Notch1 Turnover to Maintain Glioma Stem-Like Cells

Investigators showed that vasorin is a critical link between hypoxia and Notch signaling in glioma stem-like cells (GSCs). Vasorin was preferentially induced in GSCs by a HIF1α/STAT3 co-activator complex and stabilized Notch1 protein at the cell membrane. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Non-Canonical Hedgehog Signaling Is a Positive Regulator of the WNT Pathway and Is Required for the Survival of Colon Cancer Stem Cells

To study CSCs in colon cancer, researchers used limiting dilution spheroid and serial xenotransplantation assays to functionally define the frequency of CSCs in a panel of patient-derived cancer organoids. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Inhibition of Farnesyltransferase Potentiates NOTCH-Targeted Therapy against Glioblastoma Stem Cells

The authors found that farnesyltransferase inhibitors significantly improved sensitivity to γ-secretase inhibitors. This combination showed significant antineoplastic and radiosensitizing activities in glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells, whereas non-stem GBM cells were resistant. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Truncated Isoform Vav3.1 Is Highly Expressed in Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells and Clinically Relevant in Predicting Prognosis and Platinum-Response

Scientists estimated the clinical impact of Vav3 and all other Vav family members in ovarian cancer. Purification of a stem-cell like side-population from ovarian cancer cell lines was performed by flow cytometry/FACS. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Signaling Mechanisms that Regulate Ex Vivo Survival of Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Initiating Cells

Researchers showed that inhibition of GSK-3, which activates Wnt signaling, markedly improves the viability of primary human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in cytokine-free medium and further that combined inhibition of GSK-3 and the nutrient sensor mTORC1 maintains AML initiating cells (LICs) capable of engrafting immunocompromised mice, identifying a signaling network that regulates the viability of LICs. [Blood Cancer J] Full Article

Sox2 Communicates with Tregs through CCL1 to Promote the Stemness Property of Breast Cancer Cells

The authors disclose that the primarily cultured Tregs isolated from breast-tumor-bearing Foxp3-EGFP mouse upregulate the stemness property of breast cancer cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

TRAF6 Regulates Tumor Metastasis through EMT and CSC Phenotypes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Researchers investigated the role of TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) on epithelial–mesenchymal transition and CSC regulation in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Autophagy Maintains the Stemness of Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells by FOXA2

Investigators found that autophagy, through participation of Forkhead Box A2 (FOXA2), maintains the characteristics of ovarian CSCs. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Direct Inhibition of ACTN4 by Ellagic Acid Limits Breast Cancer Metastasis via Regulation of β-Catenin Stabilization in Cancer Stem Cells

Ellagic acid inhibited breast cancer growth and metastasis via directly targeting ACTN4 in vitro and in vivo, and was accompanied by a limited CSC population. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

High Expression of β-Catenin Contributes to the Crizotinib Resistant Phenotype in the Stem-Like Cell Population in Neuroblastoma

Researchers found that high expression of β-catenin in the stem-like neuroblastoma cells contributes to their crizotinib resistance. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Potential Therapeutic Effect of Melatonin on Human Ovarian Cancer by Inhibition of Invasion and Migration of Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists isolated CSCs from SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells and then investigated the role of melatonin in invasiveness and migration of CSCs compared to SKOV3 cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Drug Resistance Driven by Cancer Stem Cells and Their Niche

The authors review the recent advances in the study of CSCs, the niche and especially their collective contribution to resistance, since increasingly studies suggest that this interaction should be considered as a target for therapeutic strategies. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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

State’s Stem Cell Agency Awards Nearly $8 Million for New Leukemia Therapies

The Independent Citizens Oversight Committee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine unanimously approved two grants worth a total of almost $8 million to University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers investigating novel stem cell-based treatments for acute myeloid leukemia. [University of California, San Diego] Press Release

Forty Seven Inc. Receives $5 Million Grant from CIRM to Support Ongoing Clinical Trial in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Forty Seven Inc. announced the acceptance of a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support its ongoing clinical trial assessing Hu5F9-G4 alone and in combination with azacytidine in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. [Forty Seven Inc.] Press Release

Hundreds of German Universities Set to Lose Access to Elsevier Journals

Around 200 German universities will lose their subscriptions to Elsevier journals within weeks, because negotiations have failed to end a long-term contract dispute. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Science Job Nominees Missing Advanced Science Degrees

When it comes to filling jobs dealing with complex science, environment, and health issues, the Trump administration is nominating people with fewer science academic credentials than their Obama predecessors. And it’s moving slower as well. [STAT News] Editorial

Biohackers Disregard FDA Warning on DIY Gene Therapy

Despite a warning from the federal government about do-it-yourself (DIY) gene therapy, two companies say they’ll continue offering DNA-altering materials to the public. The companies, The Odin and Ascendance Biomedical, both recently posted videos online of people self-administering DNA molecules their labs had produced. [MIT Technology] Editorial

NEW World Vaccine Congress Washington 2018
April 3-5, 2018
Washington, D.C., United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cells (The Francis Crick Institute)

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

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)

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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