Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.24 | Jun 20 2018

TOP STORY

AMPK/FIS1-Mediated Mitophagy Is Required for Self-Renewal of Human AML Stem Cells

Researchers demonstrated that intrinsic overexpression of the mitochondrial dynamics regulator FIS1 mediates mitophagy activity that is essential for primitive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Depletion of FIS1 attenuates mitophagy and leads to inactivation of GSK3, myeloid differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and a profound loss of leukemia stem cell self-renewal potential. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment Activates GLI2 via HIF-1α and TGF-β2 to Promote Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer

Scientists report that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) and cancer-associated fibroblasts-secreted TGF-β2 converge to activate the expression of hedgehog transcription factor GLI2 in CSCs, resulting in increased stemness/dedifferentiation and intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Zeb1 Potentiates Genome-Wide Gene Transcription with Lef1 to Promote Glioblastoma Cell Invasion

Contrary to the common view that epithelial-mesenchymal transition factors act as transcriptional repressors, researchers showed that genome-wide binding of Zeb1 associates with both activation and repression of gene expression in glioblastoma stem-like cells. [EMBO J] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Inhibition of HER2 Enriches for Jagged1-Dependent Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Role for Membrane Jagged1

The authors investigated mechanisms by which human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase activity regulates Notch-dependent CSC survival and tumor initiation. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Identification of Compounds that Decrease Glioblastoma Growth and Glucose Uptake In Vitro

The screening of 13 compounds identified two that preferentially inhibit the growth of glioblastoma (GBM) cells with minimal toxicity to non-neoplastic astrocytes and neurons. These compounds, SRI-37683 and SRI-37684, also inhibited glucose uptake and decrease the glycolytic capacity and glycolytic reserve capacity of GBM patient-derived xenograft cells in glycolytic stress test assays. [ACS Chem Biol] Abstract

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-α and -β Promote Cancer Stem Cell Phenotypes in Sarcomas

Investigators examined the role of platelet-derived growth factor receptors α and β (PDGFR-α/β) in sarcoma CSCs. PDGFR-α/β activity and the effects of PDGFR-α/β inhibition were examined in three human sarcoma cell lines using in vitro assays and mouse xenograft models. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Nucleolin Is Expressed in Patient-Derived Samples and Glioblastoma Cells, Enabling Improved Intracellular Drug Delivery and Cytotoxicity

Nucleolin overexpression has been recently associated with breast cancer sub-populations with different stem-like phenotype. Investigators evaluated the potential of cell surface nucleolin as a target in glioblastoma cells. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

B7H4 Is Associated with Stemness and Cancer Progression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Scientists assessed the expression of B7H4 and cancer stemness proteins in 156 paraffin embedded esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue samples using immunohistochemistry as well as in ESCC cell lines using western blotting and immunofluorescence imaging. [Hum Pathol] Abstract

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-Type 2 Targeting on Stemness in Liver Cancer

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-type 2 channel (TRPV2) expression levels give rise to the effect on stemness in liver cancer cell lines. TRPV2 knockdown in HepG2 cells enhanced spheroid and colony formation, and expression levels of CD133, CD44 and ALDH1 whereas the opposite effects were observed in TRPV2 enforced expression in SMMC-7721 cells. [Biomed Pharmacother] Abstract

Long Non-Coding RNA BANCR Regulates Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Papillary Thyroid Cancer via the RAF/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway

Scientists investigated the potential involvement of BRAF-activated non-coding RNA (BANCR) in the development of thyroid cancer in vitro using patient tissue samples and a panel of thyroid cancer cell lines, and in vivo using a xenograft mouse model. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

CD133: Beyond a Cancer Stem Cell Biomarker

Researchers summarize new insights into the fundamental cell biology of prominin-1 (CD133) and discuss the involvement of CD133 in metastasis, metabolism, tumorigenesis, drug-resistance, apoptosis, and autophagy. [J Drug Target] Abstract

Cancer Stem Cells in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Potential Target and Prognostic Marker

The authors highlight the current understanding of breast cancer stem cells in triple-negative breast cancer, with focus on CD44⁺/CD24^– and ALDH1⁺ breast cancer stem cells. [Biomark Med] Abstract

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

AIVITA Biomedical Announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration Clearance of IND for Phase II Glioblastoma Multiforme Trial

AIVITA Biomedical announced the FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase II clinical trial investigating the company’s ROOT OF CANCER technology in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. [AIVITA Biomedical] Press Release

Celyad Doses First AML Patient at Final Dose Level in CYAD-01 THINK Trial and Treats First Patient with Second Cycle of Therapy

Celyad announced the successful injection of the first Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patient at the third and final dose level of CYAD-01 in the hematological arm of the Phase I THINK trial. [Celyad] Press Release

U.S. Legislators Back Larger Facilities Budget for NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, Virginia, is in line for a budget increase of 4% to 5% next year. That assessment is based on bills approved recently by the spending committees in both chambers of Congress. Lawmakers have also signaled support for growing the account that NSF uses to build major new scientific facilities. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why the Medical Research Grant System Could Be Costing Us Great Ideas

The medical research grant system in the United States, run through the National Institutes of Health, is intended to fund work that spurs innovation and fosters research careers. In many ways, it may be failing. [The New York Times] Editorial

House Bill Gives NIH a 3% Boost in 2019, to $38.3 Billion

A draft bill released by a House of Representatives spending panel would give the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, a $1.25 billion raise in 2019, to $38.3 billion. That is 3% more than this year’s level and $4.1 billion more than President Donald Trump’s administration had requested. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Cellular Plasticity: Reprogramming, Regeneration and Metaplasia
January 27-31, 2019
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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

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

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 Position – Cancer Research (Institute for Research in Biomedicine)

Professor – Cancer Stem Cell Research (Cardiff University)

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