Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.02 | Jan 23 2019

TOP STORY

Inhibiting Wee1 and ATR Kinases Produces Tumor-Selective Synthetic Lethality and Suppresses Metastasis

In an orthotopic breast cancer model, tumor-selective synthetic lethality between bioavailable ATR and Wee1 inhibitors led to tumor remission and inhibited metastasis with minimal side effects. [J Clin Invest] Abstract | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Inhibition of TFEB Oligomerization by Co‐Treatment of Melatonin with Vorinostat Promotes the Therapeutic Sensitivity in Glioblastoma and Glioma Stem Cells

Scientists investigated whether the combination of vorinostat and melatonin could overcome the effects of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and induce apoptosis in glioblastoma cells and glioma cancer stem cells. [J Pineal Res] Abstract

Blockade of a Laminin-411 – Notch Axis with CRISPR/Cas9 or a Nanobioconjugate Inhibits Glioblastoma Growth through Tumor-Microenvironment Crosstalk

In a panel of 226 patient brain glioma samples, researchers found a clinical correlation between the expression of tumor vascular laminin-411 with higher tumor grade and with expression of CSC markers including Notch pathway members, CD133, Nestin, and c-Myc. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Detection and Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were detected in peripheral blood from patients with Merkel cell carcinoma by use of the CellSearch^® system. Moreover, CTCs of selected cases were characterized for Merkel cell polyomavirus, chromosomal aberrations, and programed death ligand 1 production. [Clin Chem] Abstract

Chromatin-Based Classification of Genetically Heterogeneous AMLs into Two Distinct Subtypes with Diverse Stemness Phenotypes

Analyses of 38 acute myeloid leukemi (AML) samples through integrated transcriptional and chromatin mark analysis exposed two major subtypes. One subtype was dominated by patients with NPM1 mutations or MLL-fusion genes, showed activation of the regulatory pathways involving HOX-family genes as targets, and displayed high self-renewal capacity and stemness. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Mitochondrial Retrograde Signaling Regulates Wnt Signaling to Promote Tumorigenesis in Colon Cancer

Researchers report that inhibition of mitochondrial function by silencing TFAM, a key transcription factor essential for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and the transcription of mtDNA-encoded genes, markedly reduced tumor-initiating potential of colon cancer cells. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Reciprocal Regulation of Integrin β4 and KLF4 Promotes Gliomagenesis through Maintaining Cancer Stem Cell Traits

The authors found that integrin β4 (ITGB4) expression was increased in glioma stem cells (GSCs) and human glioma tissues. Upregulation of ITGB4 was correlated with glioma grades. Inhibition of ITGB4 in glioma cells decreased the self-renewal abilities of GSCs and suppressed the malignant behaviors of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Ezrin Promotes Stem Cell Properties in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Investigators examined the expression of Ezrin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and found higher levels of both total and activated Ezrin in CSCs compared to bulk tumor cells. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Disulfiram and BKM120 in Combination with Chemotherapy Impede Tumor Progression and Delay Tumor Recurrence in Tumor Initiating Cell-Rich TNBC

Scientists found that treating triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells with chemotherapeutic agents led to a significant accumulation of the ALDH⁺ tumor initiating cell (TIC) population. Treating TNBC cells with a disulfiram and copper mixture specifically decreased the ALDH⁺ TIC population and treatment with BKM120, a pan-PI3K inhibitor, significantly decreased the CD44⁺/CD24⁻ TIC population. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Prevention of Breast Cancer by Dietary Polyphenols—Role of Cancer Stem Cells

The authors summarize the origin and surface markers of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and possible mechanisms responsible for the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on BCSCs. The suppressive effects of common dietary polyphenols against BCSCs, such as curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate and related polyphenolic compounds are further discussed. [Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr] Abstract

Modeling Malignancies Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: From Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) to Hereditary Cancers

During the last decade, the possibility of reprogramming malignant cells to a pluripotent state has been achieved in several hematological malignancies, including myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndromes and CML. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

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STEMCELL Technologies Launches mTeSR™ Plus, a Next-Generation Culture System for Human ES and iPS Cell Maintenance

STEMCELL Technologies has released mTeSR™ Plus, an enhanced version of mTeSR™1, the most widely published feeder-free human pluripotent stem cell maintenance medium. The new medium has undergone successful beta testing with several members of the Stem Cell COREdinates group and has completed rigorous in-house validation testing. [STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.] Press Release

Kyn Therapeutics Enters into Global Strategic Collaboration with Celgene to Develop Immuno-Oncology Therapies

Kyn Therapeutics announced it has entered into a global strategic collaboration with Celgene Corporation. [Kyn Therapeutics] Press Release

Brazil’s New President Has Scientists Worried. Here’s Why

Brazil has long been a frontrunner in climate change policy and environmental diplomacy. The international conventions on climate change and biological diversity, for example, were born during the historic United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and Brazil played a key role in crafting and implementing both agreements. That legacy is now at risk. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Number of EU Research Students in Britain Drops from Pre-Referendum High

The number of postgraduate researchers at UK universities who come from other European Union (EU) countries has fallen since the Brexit referendum in June 2016. [Nature News] Editorial

CRISPR-Baby Scientist Fired by University

The scientist who announced last year that he had produced the world’s first gene-edited babies has been fired by his university. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology & Clinical Translation
October 13-17, 2019
Hong Kong, China

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NEW Postdoctoral Position – Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Aging and Cancer (University of California – San Francisco)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cells, Development and Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Leukemia Biology Group (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Computational Biologist – Cancer Research (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Associate – Pediatrics, Cancer Biology (University of Massachusetts)

Postdoctoral Position – Colon Cancer (Vanderbilt University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Biology (University of Massachusetts)

Postdoctoral Researcher – RNA Biology (Queen Mary University of London)

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

Assistant Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine)

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