Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.19 | May 16 2018

TOP STORY

STT3-Dependent PD-L1 Accumulation on Cancer Stem Cells Promotes Immune Evasion

Researchers demonstrated that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enriches PD-L1 in CSCs by the EMT/β-catenin/STT3/PD-L1 signaling axis, in which EMT transcriptionally induces N-glycosyltransferase STT3 through β-catenin, and subsequent STT3-dependent PD-L1 N-glycosylation stabilizes and upregulates PD-L1. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Baicalein Targets GTPase-Mediated Autophagy to Eliminate Liver Tumor Initiating Stem Cell-Like Cells Resistant to mTORC1 Inhibition

In a search for a compound which rescinds tumor initiating stem cell-like cells’ (TICs) resistance to mTORC1 inhibition and improves chemotherapy, investigators identified baicalein which selectively chemosensitizes TICs and the human HCC cell line Huh7 cells but not mouse and human primary hepatocytes. [Hepatology] Abstract

MDA-9/Syntenin Regulates Protective Autophagy in Anoikis-Resistant Glioma Stem Cells

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) displayed protective autophagy and anoikis-resistance, which correlated with expression of melanoma differentiation associated gene-9/Syntenin (MDA-9). When MDA-9 was suppressed, GSCs underwent autophagic death supporting the hypothesis that MDA-9 regulates protective autophagy in GSCs under anoikis conditions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Targetable BET Proteins- and E2F1-Dependent Transcriptional Program Maintains the Malignancy of Glioblastoma

With mechanistic exploration of a next-generation chemical degrader of BET proteins, investigators reveal a profound and consistent impact of BET proteins on E2F1- dependent transcriptional program in both differentiated glioblastoma cells and brain tumor-initiating cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Defective Replication Stress Response Is Inherently Linked to the Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype

The authors developed a replication stress response defect gene signature that predicted risk of cancer development from hyperplastic lesions. They found that replication stress response defects rewire non-malignant cells into a CSC-like state, and analysis of CSCs indicated that they inherently harbor replication stress response defects. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Notch-1-PTEN-ERK1/2 Signaling Axis Promotes HER2⁺ Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Stem Cell Survival

Investigators demonstrated a mechanism by which Notch-1 is required for trastuzumab resistance by repressing PTEN expression to contribute to activation of ERK1/2 signaling. [Oncogene] Abstract

NRP-1 Interacts with GIPC1 and α6/β4-Integrins to Increase YAP1/∆Np63α-Dependent Epidermal Cancer Stem Cell Survival

The authors identified an epidermal cancer stem (ECS) cell population that drives formation of rapidly growing and highly invasive and vascularized tumors. VEGF-A and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) are highly expressed in ECS cell tumors and VEGF-A/NRP-1 interaction is required for ECS cell survival and tumor vascularization. [Oncogene] Abstract

SMYD3 Controls a Wnt-Responsive Epigenetic Switch for ASCL2 Activation and Cancer Stem Cell Maintenance

Scientists report a novel Wnt-responsive epigenetic switch for CSC maintenance through activating the stem cell transcription factor ASCL2 in gastric carcinoma (GC). They characterized ASCL2-expressing GC cells as a subset of Wnt-responsive CSCs that depend on ASCL2 for self-renewal. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

DDB2 Represses Ovarian Cancer Cell Dedifferentiation by Suppressing ALDH1A1

Researchers demonstrated that the ovarian CSC subpopulation can be maintained via cancer cell dedifferentiation, and DNA damage-binding protein 2 (DDB2) is able to suppress this non-CSC-to-CSC conversion by repression of ALDH1A1 transcription. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

FOXM1 Contributes to Taxane Resistance by Regulating UHRF1-Controlled Cancer Cell Stemness

Taxane-resistant cancer cells were established and stem-like cancer cells were expanded. UHRF1 was overexpressed in the taxane-resistant cancer cells, which maintained CSC characteristics. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Cancer Stem Cells: Regulation Programs, Immunological Properties and Immunotherapy

With a focus on CSCs in solid tumors, the authors review CSC regulation programs and recent transcriptomics-based immunological profiling data specific to CSCs. By highlighting CSC antigens that could potentially be immunogenic, they further discuss how CSCs can be targeted immunologically. [Semin Cancer Biol] Abstract

Glioma Cell and Astrocyte Co-Cultures As a Model to Study Tumor-Tissue Interactions: A Review of Methods

Scientists list several fundamental works which allow understanding the modalities of co-culturing. Cell-to-cell interactions between astrocytes and glioma cells, the roles of astrocytes in tumor metabolism, and glioma-related angiogenesis are reviewed. [Cell Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

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

BioLineRx Announces Grant of European Patent Covering Use of BL-8040 with Cytarabine for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia

BioLineRx Ltd. announced that the European Patent Office has issued a Decision to Grant a patent claiming the use of BL-8040 with cytarabine, a chemotherapeutic agent, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. [BioLineRx Ltd.] Press Release

New Research Centers Created by Rosalind Franklin University

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science announced the formation of three new disease-based research centers focused respectively on genetic disorders, cancer cell biology, and proteomics and molecular therapeutics. [Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (PR Newswire Association, LLC.)] Press Release

Huge Gender Disparity in Cancer Research Funding in U.K.

The analysis examined data on both public and philanthropic grants given to support cancer research in the U.K. Male PIs were awarded 69 percent of the grants, and their grants were on average 1.3 times as large as those given to women, so that they received 78 percent of the total money allocated. [The Scientist] Editorial

NIH’s Plum Award for Young Scientists Skews Male, Agency’s Data Show

These prestigious grants aim to vault the most promising new Ph.D.s to independence by allowing them to bypass postdoctoral fellowships and start their own labs immediately, providing up to $250,000 annually for 5 years. But since the awards were launched by NIH Director Francis Collins in 2010, men have consistently won them in numbers exceeding their representation in the applicant pool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Sacked Japanese Biologist Gets Chance to Retrain at Crick Institute

Prominent cell biologist Yoshinori Watanabe, who was dismissed by the University of Tokyo last month, is attempting to put his past behind him by embarking on an intensive retraining program with Nobel prizewinner Paul Nurse in London. The university dismissed Watanabe after an investigation concluded that he had committed scientific misconduct. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Translation of Stem Cells to the Clinic: Challenges and Opportunities
December 2-4, 2018
Los Angeles, California, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – High Mobility Group A Proteins in Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, and Normal Development (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Bioinformatics (University of Copenhagen)

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)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cancer Stem Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.