Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.18 | May 9 2018

TOP STORY

Laterally Confined Growth of Cells Induces Nuclear Reprogramming in the Absence of Exogenous Biochemical Factors

Investigators showed that laterally confined growth of fibroblasts on micropatterned substrates induces nuclear reprogramming with high efficiency in the absence of any exogenous reprogramming factors. They provide compelling evidence on the induction of stem cell-like properties using alkaline phosphatase assays and expression of pluripotent markers. They also demonstrated the induction of cancer stemness properties in MCF7 cells grown in such laterally confined conditions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Optimized Dosing Schedule Based on Circadian Dynamics of Mouse Breast Cancer Stem Cells Improves the Anti-Tumor Effects of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

Researchers showed that the population of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive cells in a mouse 4T1 breast tumor model exhibits pronounced circadian alterations. Alterations in the number of ALDH-positive cells was generated by time-dependent increases and decreases in the expression of Aldh3a1. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

CDK5 Inhibition Resolves PKA/cAMP-Independent Activation of CREB1 Signaling in Glioma Stem Cells

Scientists revealed that pharmaceutical inhibition of CDK5 prevents glioma stem cell self-renewal in vitro and in xenografted tumors, at least partially by suppressing CREB1 activation independently of PKA/cAMP. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Inhibition of GPR158 by MicroRNA-449a Suppresses Neural Lineage of Glioma Stem/Progenitor Cells and Correlates with Higher Glioma Grades

G protein coupled-receptor 158 (GPR158) promoted glioma stem cell differentiation and induced apoptosis and was highest expressed in the cerebral cortex and in oligodendrogliomas, lower in IDH mutant astrocytomas and lowest in the most malignant form of glioma, IDH wild-type glioblastoma. [Oncogene] Full Article

VEGF-Neuropilin-2 Signaling Promotes Stem-Like Traits in Breast Cancer Cells by TAZ-Mediated Repression of the Rac GAP β2-Chimaerin

The expression of the Hippo effector TAZ was associated with breast CSCs and confers stem cell-like properties. Investigators found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-neuropilin-2 signaling contributed to the activation of TAZ in various breast cancer cells, which mediated a positive feedback loop that promoted mammosphere formation. [Sci Signal] Full Article

Antibody-Antisense Oligonucleotide Conjugate Downregulates a Key Gene in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

The authors used antibodies against antigens expressed on the glioblastoma stem cells, such as CD44 and EphA2, conjugated to chemically modified antibody-antisense oligonucleotides against downregulated in renal cell carcinoma/FAM107A, which were designed as chimeras of DNA and 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleic acid for increased nuclease stability and mRNA affinity. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

Leukemic Alterations of IKZF1 Prime Stemness and Malignancy Programs in Human Lymphocytes

Scientists used a frequent IKZF1 deletion, IK6, as a model via transduction into human primitive hematopoietic cells, followed by xenotransplantation in mice. Immunophenotypically defined stem, pro-B, and immature/mature-B cells were collected from primary recipients for functional assay and transcriptome profiling. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

p53-Dependent CD51 Expression Contributes to Characteristics of Cancer Stem Cells in Prostate Cancer

Researchers found that CD51 is a functional molecule that is able to promote the malignancy of prostate cancer (PCa) through enhancing tumor initiation, metastatic potential, and chemoresistance. They found that elevated CD51 expression in PCa specimens correlates with p53 loss of function. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The SHH/Gli Axis Regulates CD90-Mediated Liver Cancer Stem Cell Function by Activating the IL6/JAK2 Pathway

Scientists investigated potential implications of SHH/Gli signalling in CD90⁺ liver cancer stem cells. Correlation of the expression of SHH signaling components and CD90 in liver cancer cells and clinical tissues, as well as in enriched CD90⁺ liver cancer stem cells and the TCGA database, were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Nanog Interaction with the Androgen Receptor Signaling Axis Induce Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell Regulation: Studies Based on the CRISPR/Cas9 System

The authors investigated the interaction of Nanog with androgen receptor and examined whether this interaction induced stem-like properties in ovarian cancer cells. [J Ovarian Res] Abstract

A Time for YAP1: Tumorigenesis, Immunosuppression and Targeted Therapy

The authors summarize the evidence involved in the dual roles of YAP1 in cancer development and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. They also discuss the possibility of YAP1 as a novel therapeutic target. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

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

Daiichi Sankyo Announces Single Agent Quizartinib Significantly Prolongs Overall Survival Compared with Chemotherapy in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory AML with FLT3-ITD Mutations (QuANTUM-R Study)

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited announced that the pivotal QuANTUM-R Phase III study of single agent quizartinib met its primary endpoint of significantly prolonging overall survival compared to salvage chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3-ITD mutations after first-line treatment with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited] Press Release

Medicenna Amends Protocol of Phase IIb Recurrent Glioblastoma Study of MDNA55 in Response to Strong Safety Data and Early Efficacy Read-Outs

Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. announced that half the patients in the ongoing Phase IIb study of MDNA55 in recurrent glioblastoma have been recruited and the data to date demonstrate solid safety results and early signals of efficacy based on the findings of the Safety Review and Clinical Advisory Committees. [Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.] Press Release

Australian Budget Delivers for Science Facilities and Medical Research

The government will push to invest almost Aus$1.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) over the next 12 years in shared research infrastructure — such as microscopes, supercomputers, a marine observing system and telescopes used in myriad disciplines, from nanotechnology to oceanography. Medical research will receive an increase of $1.3 billion, to be spent on various programs and initiatives over 10 years that improve health and boost the medical industry, including $500 million for a genomics and precision-medicine initiative. [Nature News] Editorial

Animal Tests Surge under New U.S. Chemical Safety Law

The cause of the increase isn’t clear. But the new law imposes stricter requirements on a broader array of chemicals than its predecessor, including both new products and ones already on the market, and experts say Environmental Protection Agency staff may be trying to comply by gathering more test data from companies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Postdoc Hopes Pennsylvania Voters Will Help Her Re-Engineer How to Run for Congress

A postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who designs proteins for possible use in treating cancer, Sheehan has ignored conventional wisdom about the importance of raising tons of money to spread her message that she’s “a mother, a bioengineer, [and a] proud progressive.” Instead, she’s urging scientists and others in the community to offer their considerable skills to work for candidates they support. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Basic Scientists Still Feel Pinch of New NIH Clinical Trial Policy

Basic researchers who study the brain and human behavior thought lawmakers had come to their rescue in March by blocking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from redefining their studies as clinical trials. But NIH officials are still pushing ahead with new requirements that scientists say make no sense and will cripple their research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Petition Asks National Academy of Sciences to Boot Sexual Harassers

An online petition calling on the National Academy of Sciences to revoke memberships bestowed on people sanctioned for sexual harassment has garnered more than 250 signatures since it was posted on May 1. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 30^th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium
November 13-16, 2018
Dublin, Ireland

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Bioinformatics (University of Copenhagen)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (University of North Texas Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Glioma Epigenetics and Signaling (NYU School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (Institute for Research in Biomedicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells (University of New South Wales)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Research (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Professor – Cancer Stem Cell Research (Cardiff University)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Research Scientist – Gynecologic Cancers (The UCLA G.O. Discovery Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Phylogenetics (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Breast Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

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