Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.48 | Dec 5 2018

TOP STORY

Myelodysplastic Syndrome Progression to Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the Stem Cell Level

As progression of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in humans provides a biological system to determine the cellular origins and mechanisms of neoplastic transformation, scientists studied highly fractionated stem cell populations in longitudinal samples of patients with MDS who progressed to AML. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Tumor-Vasculature Development via Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition after Radiotherapy Controls CD44v6⁺ Cancer Cell and Macrophage Polarization

Researchers report that radiation-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) lead to tumor vasculature with abnormal SMA⁺NG2⁺ pericyte recruitment during tumor regrowth after radiotherapy. Trp53 deletion in endothelial cells inhibited radiation-induced EndMT, reducing tumor regrowth and metastases with a high CD44v6⁺ CSC content after radiotherapy. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Ablation of Cancer Stem Cells by Therapeutic Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 Interaction in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

Investigators evaluated the effect of a small molecule inhibitor of MDM2-p53 interaction (MI-773) on the fraction of cancer stem cells in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEX). Human mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells were used to assess the effect of MI-773 on cell survival, cell cycle, fraction of CSCs and expression of p53, p21, MDM2, and Bmi-1. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Androgen Signaling Is Essential for Development of Prostate Cancer Initiated from Prostatic Basal Cells

Researchers demonstrated that, with stabilized β-catenin expression, prostatic p63-expressing cells possess the ability to initiate oncogenic transformation and, in the presence of androgens, they further transdifferentiate into luminal-like tumor cells and develop adenocarcinomas. [Oncogene] Abstract

Nutritional Stress Reprograms Dedifferention in Glioblastoma Multiforme Driven by PTEN/Wnt/Hedgehog Axis: A Stochastic Model of Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators developed a stochastic model of CSCs by gradual nutritional deprivation in glioblastoma multiforme cells used as a model system. Nutritional deprivation induced enhanced expression of glioblastoma stem-like cells-specific biomarkers with higher invasive and angiogenic properties. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

HDAC2 Depletion Promotes Osteosarcoma’s Stemness Both In Vitro and In Vivo: A Study on a Putative New Target for CSCs Directed Therapy

Scientists investigated the effects of the HDAC inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) and the demethylating agent, 5’azacytidine (DAC) on the stem phenotype of MG63 and Saos2 osteosarcoma cell lines. Saos2 and MG63 cells were treated with DAC and VPA, alone and in combination. Untreated and treated cells were examined for stemness phenotype by cytometry and real-time PCR. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Abnormally Elevated USP37 Expression in Breast Cancer Stem Cells Regulates Stemness, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cisplatin Sensitivity

The authors detected that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37 (USP37) was overexpressed in breast CSCs. USP37 regulated the ability of cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness and cisplatin sensitivity in breast cancer cell lines. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Sox2 Is Associated with Cancer Stem-Like Properties in Colorectal Cancer

Researchers clarified the role of Sox2 in colorectal CSCs. Sox2 expression was measured in colon cancer cells and colorectal clinical samples by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Use of DNA-Generated Gold Nanoparticles to Radiosensitize and Eradicate Radioresistant Glioma Stem Cells

The authors demonstrated the potential of DNA-gold nanoparticles as a radiosensitizer of human glioma cells that have CSC-like properties, to reduce their survival. [Nanotechnology] Abstract

Interaction of lncRNA‐MALAT1 and miR‐124 Regulates HBx‐Induced Cancer Stem Cell Properties in HepG2 through PI3K/Akt Signaling

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) promoted CSC properties through upregulating stemness markers and reprogramming proteins, and contributed to tumorigenicity of HepG2‐X cells both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of Akt activation blocked the HBx‐stimulated reprogramming proteins and stemness markers. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

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Cancer Stem Cells: Road to Therapeutic Resistance and Strategies to Overcome Resistance

The authors address the pathways that regulate CSCs, the role of CSCs in the resistance to therapy, and strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance. [Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis] Abstract

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GlaxoSmithKline to Acquire Cancer Biotech TESARO for $5.1 Billion

GlaxoSmithKline will buy the oncology biotech company TESARO for $5.1 billion, the companies announced. “The acquisition of TESARO will strengthen our pharmaceuticals business by accelerating the build of our oncology pipeline and commercial footprint, along with providing access to new scientific capabilities,” says GSK CEO Emma Walmsley in the release. [GlaxoSmithKline (The Scientist)] Press Release

ERC Awards €573 Million to Mid-Career Researchers from 40 Countries

The European Research Council (ERC) announced the recipients of its Consolidator Grant competition: 291 top scientists across Europe. Funding for these researchers, part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, is worth in total €573 million and will give them a chance to build up their teams and have far-reaching impact. [The European Research Council] Press Release

Tocagen and NRG Oncology to Collaborate on a Phase II/III Trial of Toca 511 & Toca FC in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

Tocagen Inc. announced that the NCI Cancer Therapy and Evaluation Program Brain Malignancies Steering Committee has approved a concept to develop a clinical trial utilizing the investigational therapeutic regimen Toca 511 & Toca FC for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. [Tocagen Inc.] Press Release

Iterion Therapeutics Initiates Phase I Clinical Study of Tegavivint in Patients with Desmoid Tumors

Iterion Therapeutics announced that it has initiated a multi-center Phase I clinical study of Tegavivint, its lead therapeutic candidate, in patients with desmoid tumors that are unresectable and symptomatic or progressive. Tegavivint, is a potent and selective inhibitor of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway, implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, immune evasion and stem cell renewal. [Iterion Therapeutics] Press Release

Government Loyalist Appointed New UK Science Minister as Brexit Woes Continue

Amid the carnage of Brexit, the UK government has gained a new science minister. Chris Skidmore was appointed on 5 December, succeeding Sam Gyimah, who resigned last week over the direction of Brexit negotiations. [Nature News] Editorial

Researchers Sign Petition Backing Plans to End Paywalls

More than 1,400 researchers have signed an online letter backing the principles of Plan S, the bold open-access initiative led by research agencies who say that, by 2020, papers resulting from their funding should be immediately free to read on publication. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Emphasizes Workforce Training in New Vision for Stem Education

The U.S. government needs to partner with industry and community organizations to train more Americans for jobs in an increasingly high-tech work environment. That’s the key message in a new 5-year strategic plan for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education released by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW AACR Annual Meeting 2019
March 29-April 3, 2019
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

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NEW Tenure-Track/Tenured Faculty – Cancer Biology (University of Chicago)

NEW Research Scientist – Cancer Biology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell and Cancer Biology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Biology (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Stem Cells and Organoids (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

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)

Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (The Jackson Laboratory)

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