Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.36 | Sep 12 2018

TOP STORY

McMaster Study Identifies an Unexpected Cell Population Key to Blood Cancer Relapse

McMaster University researchers have provided evidence of new cancerous cells they have termed cancer regenerating cells, which are responsible for the return of acute myeloid leukemia after remission. [Press release from McMaster University discussing online prepublication in Cancer Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Characterization and Targeting of Malignant Stem Cells in Patients with Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Investigators reported that during evolution of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), malignant hematopoietic stem cells activated distinct cellular programs that rendered such cells susceptible to therapeutic intervention. Pharmacological targeting of protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation demonstrated potent and selective eradication of MDS stem cells in primary human patient specimens. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Selective Depletion of Metastatic Stem Cells as Therapy for Human Colorectal Cancer

In contrast to free oligo-floxuridine (FdU), intravenous T22-GFP-H6-FdU selectively accumulated and internalized in CXCR4⁺ cancer cells, triggering DNA damage and apoptosis, which led to their selective elimination and to reduced tumor re-initiation capacity. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

MRI Tracking of Polyethylene Glycol-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide-Labelled Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells toward Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells in a Mouse Model

Polyethylene glycol-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide was synthesized for cellular labelling and imaging of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (P-MSCs), displaying high cellular uptake and no cytotoxic effect on P-MSC proliferation or stemness property. P-MSCs had greater migratory activity towards glioblastoma stem-like cells and across blood-brain barrier compared with bone marrow-derived MSCs, and this activity was enhanced by hypoxia precondition. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract

Up-Regulation of miR-210 Induced by a Hypoxic Microenvironment Promotes Breast Cancer Stem Cells Metastasis, Proliferation, and Self-Renewal by Targeting E-Cadherin

Ectopic expression of miR-210 in MCF-7 cells promoted their migration, invasion, proliferation, and self-renewal in both in vitro and in vivo studies. miR-210 suppressed E-cadherin expression by targeting the open reading frame region of E-cadherin mRNA and by up-regulation of E-cadherin transcription repressor, Snail. [FASEB J] Abstract

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Cells Require the Bone Morphogenic Protein Pathway for Cell Cycle Progression and Self-Renewal

Targeting chronic myeloid leukaemia CD34⁺ cells with bone morphogenic protein (BMP) receptor inhibitors resulted in fewer cell divisions, reduced numbers of CD34⁺ cells and colony formation when compared to normal donor CD34⁺ cells, both in the presence and absence of BMP4. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Targeting Glioma Initiating Cells with a Combined Therapy Of Cannabinoids And Temozolomide

Researchers found that the administration of TMZ + Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol at a 1:1 ratio reduced the growth of orthotopic xenografts generated with glioma initiating cells derived from glioblastoma multiforme patients and enhanced the survival of animals bearing these intracranial xenografts. [Biochem Pharmacol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

FOXC1 Induces Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties through Upregulation of Beta-Catenin in NSCLC

Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) knockdown reduced CD133⁺ cell percentage, suppressed self-renewal ability, decreased expression of stemness-related genes and inhibited non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell tumorigenicity in vivo. Overexpression of beta-catenin reversed the CSC-like property inhibition induced by FOXC1 knockdown, and knockdown of beta-catenin attenuated the CSC-like properties induced by FOXC1 overexpression. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Casein Kinase 1 Epsilon Regulates Glioblastoma Cell Survival

Depletion of casein kinase 1 ε (CK1ε) remarkably inhibited the growth of glioblastoma cells and suppressed self-renewal of glioblastoma stem cells, while having limited effect on astrocytes. CK1ε deprivation activated β-catenin and induced apoptosis, which was further counteracted by knockdown of β-catenin. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

PlGF Knockdown Induced Apoptosis through Wnt Signaling Pathway in Gastric Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists revealed that placental growth factor (PlGF) knockdown with PlGF-specific small interfering RNA at 40-pmol for gastric cancer stem cells derived from MKN-45 and AGS at 24-hours significantly affected cell viability, the Wnt signaling pathway, and apoptosis-related gene expression. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Lipophilic Statins Antagonistically Alter the Major Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells via Inhibition of the Mevalonate Pathway

A nontoxic dose of statins significantly altered the expression of 50 of 71 studied genes with a shared cluster of 37 genes that are coding chief operators of signaling pathways in Hippo, Notch, Wnt, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and cell death. Statins significantly chemosensitized treated cells to doxorubicin and also reduced in vitro migration of cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Calpain-6 Controls the Fate of Sarcoma Stem Cells by Promoting Autophagy and Preventing Senescence

Calpain-6 knockdown blocked tumor development in mouse and induced depletion of the CSC population. Calpain-6 knockdown suppressed hypoxia-dependent prevention of senescence entry and also promotion of autophagic flux. [JCI Insight] Full Article

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Cancer Stem Cells-Emanated Therapy Resistance: Implications for Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems

The authors describe mechanisms by which CSCs can promote drug resistance to impair the efficacy of cancer therapies. They summarize the implication of each of these mechanisms as potential therapeutics ways to overcome the therapeutically-resistant CSCs. They also discuss the status, therapeutic potential and prospect of different liposomal drug delivery systems in overcoming CSC drug resistance in the clinic. [J Control Release] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Therapeutic Solutions International Completes Phase I Clinical Trial in Advanced Cancer Patients for Right to Try Access of Its StemVacs Product for American Cancer Patients

Therapeutics Solutions International, Inc. announced the completion of a Phase I clinical trial in advanced cancer patients using its StemVacs cellular immunotherapy. [Therapeutic Solutions International, Inc] Press Release

Poseida Provides Update on Phase I Study of P-BCMA-101 CAR-T Stem Cell Memory Product in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Poseida Therapeutics Inc. announced data results from the first eleven patients treated in its ongoing Phase I study of its P-BCMA-101 stem cell memory chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) product in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. [Poseida Therapeutics Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Regen BioPharma, Inc. Updates Report on Success of Its NR2F6 Small Molecule Antagonist Screening Program for Treating Cancer

Regen BioPharma Inc. identified a series of small molecule drugs that inhibit NR2F6. Regen’s screening process demonstrated that its recently-identified, novel chemical compounds appeared to inhibit NR2F6 and thus could potentially be developed for treating cancer. [Regen BioPharma, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Advocate for Women in Science Wins Prestigious Lasker Award

Pioneers in anaesthesiology, DNA structure and RNA biology are this year’s Lasker Awards recipients. The annual prize rewards achievements in biomedical research and is often considered a precursor to the Nobel. [Nature News] Editorial

Top Cancer Researcher Called Out for Not Disclosing Conflicts in Medical Journals

Medical journals and professional societies require study authors and presenters to disclose conflicts of interest, but this didn’t stop José Baselga, M.D., who heads up research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, from fudging his disclosures. [Fierce Biotech] Editorial

Peer Reviewers in Developing Nations Are Underrepresented, Report Suggests

Combined, scientists spend nearly 70 million hours peer reviewing manuscripts for scholarly journals every year, a new report says. But too much of the onus rests on researchers in wealthy countries, according to the report by the company Publons—based in London and Wellington—which enables researchers to track and claim credit for the peer reviews they perform. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW FEBS: From Molecules to Living Systems
July 6-11, 2019
Krakow, Poland

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cell Biology (McGill University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cell Chemical Systems Medicine (University of Copenhagen)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer and Glioma Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Metastasis (International Clinical Research Center St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Emory University Hospital)

Research Scientist – Leukemia (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Cancer Development (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells in Murine Models of Kidney Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Group Leader Positions – Precision Medicine (Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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