Cancer Stem Cell News 7.45 November 14, 2018 | |
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TOP STORYResearchers showed that treatment of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia with the B cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor venetoclax in combination with azacitidine results in deep and durable remissions and is superior to conventional treatments. They hypothesized that these promising clinical results were due to targeting leukemia stem cells. [Nat Med] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Inhibition of Amino Acid Metabolism Selectively Targets Human Leukemia Stem Cells The authors demonstrated that amino acid uptake, steady-state levels, and catabolism are all elevated in the leukemia stem cell (LSC) population. Furthermore, LSCs isolated from de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients are uniquely reliant on amino acid metabolism for oxidative phosphorylation and survival. [Cancer Cell] Full Article | Press Release T-ALL Leukemia Stem Cell ‘Stemness’ Is Epigenetically Controlled by the Master Regulator SPI1 Using single-cell RNA-seq analysis, scientists identified a master regulator, SPI1, the leukemia stem cell (LSC)-specific expression of which determines the molecular signature and activity of LSCs in the murine Pten-null T-ALL model. [eLife] Full Article It was demonstrated that inhibition of GLAST expression limited the progression and invasion of glioblastoma xenografts. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure glutamate in GLAST‐expressing gliomas showing that these tumors exhibit increased glutamate concentration compared to GLAST‐depleted glioma. Despite their GLAST expression, GBM stem‐like cells released rather than taking up glutamate due to their lack of Na+/K+‐ATPase. [Int J Cancer] Abstract Scientists showed that intracellular polyamines inhibited the activity of histone lysine 4 demethylase enzymes, including lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1). Chromatin immunoprecipitation with Pol II antibody followed by massively parallel DNA sequencing, revealed the global enrichment of Pol II in transcription start sites in CSCs. [Cell Death Discov] Abstract As a natural flavonol, fisetin has significant inhibitory effects on many cancers. Investigators found that fisetin inhibits the epigenetic mechanism in renal cancer stem cells. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article Scientists found that isolated and cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) express CCR2 and CXCR4, the respective receptors for MCP-1/CCL2 and SDF-1/CXCL12, and demonstrated, in vitro, that MCP-1/CCL2 and SDF-1/CXC12, secreted by CD133+ GBM cells from primary cell cultures, induced the migration of MSCs. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article Researchers investigated factors mediating cancer stemness in thyroid cancer. MUC15 played an important role in sphere formation, as an evident from the expression of stemness markers including SOX2, KLF4, ALDH1A3, and IL6. [Oncogenesis] Full Article The authors examined whether the different tumor-transplanted sites could construct a similar immunoinflammatory microenvironment and investigated the interactions between tumor microenvironment cells. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Neural Cell News & Hematopoiesis News. | |
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REVIEWSCancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in Cancer Progression and Therapy There are multiple ways to target CSCs, including immunotherapy, hormone therapy, (mi)siRNA delivery, and gene knockout. Such approaches can be designed for suppressing CSC stemness, tumorigenic cues from tumor microenvironment, CSC extrinsic and/or intrinsic signaling, hypoxia or for promoting differentiation in the cells. Because of sharing a range of characteristics to normal stem/progenitor cells, CSCs must be targeted based on their unique markers and their preferential expression of antigens. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cancer stem cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSZiopharm Oncology, Inc. announced a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to evaluate Ziopharm’s Ad-RTS-hIL-12 plus veledimex in combination with Regeneron’s PD-1 antibody Libtayo® to treat patients with recurrent glioblastoma. [Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.] Press Release Bayer’s Regorafenib is the First Drug to Enter GBM AGILE The Global Coalition for Adaptive Research and Bayer announced that Bayer’s regorafenib will be the first drug to enter “GBM AGILE” (Glioblastoma Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment). GBM AGILE is a revolutionary patient-centered adaptive platform trial that will evaluate multiple therapies for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. [The Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (Business Wire Inc.)] Press Release Driving the dizzying pace of breakthroughs in blood cancer treatments, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced $42 million for 80 blood cancer research teams around the world. This latest infusion of funding by LLS, the world’s largest nonprofit devoted to curing blood cancers, brings the organization’s current commitment to more than $188 million in multi-year grants, supporting more than 240 top scientific investigators at the world’s most prestigious cancer institutions. [The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society] Press Release Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc announced that NICE has published a Final Appraisal Determination recommending Vyxeos® 44 mg/100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion for routine use on the National Health Service in England and Wales for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed, therapy-related AML or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes. [Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSWith Democrats in Control of U.S. House, Science Panel Gets Fresh Start The results of divisive midterm elections, with Democrats reclaiming control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Republicans likely strengthening their hold on the Senate, have allowed both parties to claim victory. U.S. scientists are also experiencing mixed emotions. [ScienceInsider] Editorial In the Palestinian Territories, Science Struggles Against All Odds Travel restrictions and paltry funding hamper researchers, who are trying to build a scientific base. After decades of conflict, many embittered Palestinians from the occupied territories boycott any form of economic or cultural activities with Israel — including research. But higher education is an exception. [Nature News] Editorial Africa’s Science ‘Millionaires’: Survey Spotlights Top-Funded Researchers Africa’s research funding system has created few winners: only 2% or so of scientists from just a handful of countries and fields report receiving million-dollar grants, while almost half say they don’t receive any research funding. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Keystone Symposia: Cell Competition in Development and Disease Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Stem Cells and Organoids (Cancer Institute of New Jersey) Research Scientist – Leukemia Stem/Progenitor Cell Research (MD Anderson Cancer Center) Clinical Research Fellow – Stem Cell Biology of Medulloblastoma (University of Oxford) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells in Brain Tumors (University of Calgary) Faculty Positions – Cancer & Stem Cell Biology (Duke-NUS Medical School) Assistant Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine) PhD Studentships – Cancer (The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute) Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (The Jackson Laboratory) Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions – Translational Leukemia (Lund University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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