Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.23 | Jun 13 2018

TOP STORY

Lmo2 Expression Defines Tumor Cell Identity during T-Cell Leukemogenesis

Scientists initiated LMO2 expression in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and maintained its expression in all hematopoietic cells. In order to uncover a potential exclusive reprogramming effect of LMO2 in murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, they showed that transient LMO2 expression was sufficient for oncogenic function and induction of T-ALL. [EMBO J] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Reciprocal Regulation of DUSP9 and DUSP16 Expression by HIF-1 Controls ERK and p38 MAP Kinase Activity and Mediates Chemotherapy-Induced Breast Cancer Stem Cell Enrichment

The authors demonstrated that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1-dependent regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways contributes to chemotherapy-induced breast cancer stem cell enrichment. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Licofelone Enhances the Efficacy of Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer by Reversing Drug Resistance and Tumor Stem-Like Properties

Multicellular tumor spheroids exhibited greater resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, showed signs of senescence and hypoxia, and expressed a number of stem cell-associated transcripts including ALDH1A and CD133. [Cancer Res] Abstract

YAP and MRTF-A, Transcriptional Co-Activators of RhoA-Mediated Gene Expression, Are Critical for Glioblastoma Tumorigenicity

The role of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) and myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), two transcriptional co-activators regulated downstream of G protein-coupled receptors and RhoA, in the growth of glioblastoma cells and in vivo glioblastoma multiforme tumor development was explored using human glioblastoma cell lines and tumor-initiating cells derived from patient-derived xenografts. [Oncogene] Abstract

The XPO1 Inhibitor Selinexor Inhibits Translation and Enhances the Radiosensitivity of Glioblastoma Cells Grown In Vitro and In Vivo

Investigators defined the effects of the clinically relevant XPO1 inhibitor Selinexor on the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma cells. As determined by clonogenic survival analysis, selinexor enhanced the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma stem-like cells but not normal fibroblast cell lines. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Targeting of BMI-1 with PTC-209 Inhibits Glioblastoma Development

Researchers showed that BMI-1 is highly expressed in glioblastoma multiforme and especially enriched in glioblastoma stem cells. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

R-Spondin1/Wnt-Enhanced Ascl2 Autoregulation Controls the Self-Renewal of Colorectal Cancer Progenitor Cells

Investigators showed that exogenous Ascl2 in colorectal cancer cells activated endogenous Ascl2 expression via a direct autoactivatory loop, including Ascl2 binding to its own promoter and further transcriptional activation. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Friend Leukemia Virus Integration 1 Is a Predictor of Poor Prognosis of Breast Cancer and Promotes Metastasis and Cancer Stem Cell Properties of Breast Cancer Cells

Researchers performed a series of functional experiments in vitro and orthotopic xenograft experiments in the mammary fat pad of nude mice. FLI-1, as a transcription factor, bound to the promoters of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, and regulated their expressions at the transcriptional level, thus induced EMT. [Cancer Med] Abstract | Full Article

Radiosensitizing Effects of miR-18a-5p on Lung Cancer Stem-Like Cells via Downregulating both ATM and HIF-1α

miR-18a-5p expression was downregulated in irradiated lung cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-18a-5p increased the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells and inhibited the growth of A549 xenografts after radiation exposure. [Cancer Med] Abstract | Full Article

New Physical Approaches to Treat Cancer Stem Cells: A Review

The importance and benefits of the physical CSCs therapy methods such as nanomaterial-based heat treatments and particle therapy are highlighted. [Clin Transl Oncol] Abstract

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

Cellectar Granted U.S. Patent for the Treatment of Various Cancers and Cancer Stem Cells with CLR 131

Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent application number 15/099,977 titled, “Ether and Alkyl Phospholipid Compounds for Treating Cancer and Imaging Detection of Cancer Stem Cells.” [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

National Cancer Institute Selects ASU to Lead Revolutionary Research in Cancer

Arizona State University (ASU) has been awarded more than $8.5 million over five years from the National Cancer Institute to establish the Arizona Cancer and Evolution Center. The grant will establish ASU as the hub of an international network of research scientists who are dedicated to understanding cancer in an entirely new way. [Arizona State University] Press Release

Sexual Harassment Is Rife in the Sciences, Finds Landmark US Study

Sexual harassment is pervasive throughout academic science in the United States, driving talented researchers out of the field and harming others’ careers, finds a report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington DC. The analysis concludes that policies to fight the problem are ineffective because they are set up to protect institutions, not victims — and that universities, funding agencies, scientific societies and other organizations must take stronger action. [Nature News] Editorial

North American Universities Increasingly Cancel Publisher Packages

Florida State University (FSU) will head into negotiations with the publisher Elsevier to see how it can resolve a pricing issue. Back in April, FSU announced that it would not renew a so-called “big deal” with Elsevier in 2019, due to its “high and ever-increasing cost,” and would instead subscribe to a subset of the most-needed journals. [The Scientist] Editorial

China Introduces Sweeping Reforms to Crack Down on Academic Misconduct

China is getting tough on scientific misconduct. The country’s most powerful bodies, the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council, introduced a raft of reforms on 30 May aimed at improving integrity across the research spectrum, from funding and job applications to peer-review and publications. [Nature News] Editorial

More Restrictive U.S. Policy on Chinese Graduate Student Visas Raises Alarm

Reversing yet another policy of the previous administration, the U.S. Department of State began applying tougher restrictions on some Chinese graduate students. The new policy shortens from five years to one year the duration of visas for those planning to study aviation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cancer Stem Cells: Impact on Treatment 2018
December 11-15, 2018
Seefeld, Austria

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NEW Research Officer – Cancer Research (University of New South Wales)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Various (The Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

PhD Student – Cell Signaling (German Cancer Research Center)

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)

Professor – Cancer Stem Cell Research (Cardiff University)

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