Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.14 | Apr 17 2019

TOP STORY

Single-Cell Transcriptomics Uncovers Glial Progenitor Diversity and Cell Fate Determinants during Development and Gliomagenesis

Researchers identified distinct transitional intermediate states and their divergent developmental trajectories in astroglial and oligodendroglial lineages. Moreover, intersectional analysis uncovered analogous intermediate progenitors during brain tumorigenesis, wherein oligodendrocyte-progenitor intermediates were abundant, hyper-proliferative, and progressively reprogrammed toward a stem-like state susceptible to further malignant transformation. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Bone Vascular Niche E-Selectin Induces Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition and Wnt Activation in Cancer Cells to Promote Bone Metastasis

Scientists report that the paradoxical requirement for the simultaneous induction of both mesenchymal-epithelial transition and cancer stem cell traits in disseminated tumor cells was provided by bone vascular niche E-selectin, whose direct binding to cancer cells promoted bone metastasis by inducing mesenchymal-epithelial transition and activating Wnt signaling. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Stem Cell-Associated Heterogeneity in Glioblastoma Results from Intrinsic Tumor Plasticity Shaped by the Microenvironment

Investigators showed that phenotypic heterogeneity arose from non-hierarchical, reversible state transitions, instructed by the microenvironment and was predictable by mathematical modeling. Although functional stem cell properties were similar in vitro, accelerated reconstitution of heterogeneity provided a growth advantage in vivo, suggesting that tumorigenic potential was linked to intrinsic plasticity rather than CSC multipotency. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Genome-Wide CRISPR-Cas9 Screens Expose Genetic Vulnerabilities and Mechanisms of Temozolomide Sensitivity in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Using CRISPR-Cas9 approaches in patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs) to interrogate function of the coding genome, the authors identified actionable pathways responsible for growth, which revealed the gene-essential circuitry of GBM stemness and proliferation. In particular, they characterized members of the SOX transcription factor family, SOCS3, USP8, and DOT1L, and protein ufmylation as important for GSC growth. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

CD103-Positive CSC Exosome Promotes EMT of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Role of Remote miR-19b-3p

The effect of exosomes isolated from CSCs of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) patients on the progress of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lung metastasis of CCRCC cells were examined. CSC exosomes promoted proliferation of CCRCC cells and accelerated the progress of EMT. Bioactive miR-19b-3p transmitted to cancer cells by CSC exosomes induced EMT via repressing the expression of PTEN. [Mol Cancer] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Identification of Cancer Stem Cell Molecular Markers and Effects of hsa-miR-21-3p on Stemness in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Researchers established a method to identify and isolate CSCs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using fluorescence-activated cell sorting with combined surface biomarkers including CD71, CD271, and CD338. CD71⁻/CD271⁺/CD338⁺ subpopulation cells possessed more stem cell properties in proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation, metastasis, drug resistance, and tumorigenesis. [Cancers] Full Article

Small-Molecule Ferroptotic Agents with Potential to Selectively Target Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators discovered a new class of small molecule anticancer agents that had no effect on tubulin but instead killed selected cancer cell lines by harnessing reactive oxygen species to induce ferroptosis. Interestingly, they found that drug sensitivity was highest in tumor cells with a mesenchymal phenotype. [Sci Rep] Full Article

DGCR5 Promotes Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties of Radioresistant Laryngeal Carcinoma Cells by Sponging miR-506 via Wnt Pathway

Two human larynx squamous carcinoma cell lines with different radio sensitivities were cultured. Interestingly, CSC-like phenotypes were much more enriched in Hep-2R cells. The authors found that DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) was upregulated and microRNA-506 (miR-506) was downregulated in Hep-2R cells. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

FKBPL and Its Peptide Derivatives Inhibit Endocrine Therapy Resistant Cancer Stem Cells and Breast Cancer Metastasis by Downregulating DLL4 and Notch4

Researchers utilized in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo breast cancer models using ER+ MCF-7 and ER- MDA-MB-231 cells, as well as solid and metastatic breast cancer patient samples, to interrogate the effects of FKBPL and its peptide therapeutics on metastasis, endocrine therapy resistant CSCs and DLL4 and Notch4 expression. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Neural Cell News & Hematopoiesis News.

Molecular Carcinogenesis of Gastric Cancer: Lauren Classification, Mucin Phenotype Expression, and Cancer Stem Cells

Gastric cancer (GC), one of the most common human cancers, is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes, prognoses, and responses to treatment. Understanding the pathogenesis of GC at the molecular level is important for prognosis prediction and determining treatments. [Int J Clin Oncol] Abstract

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

Tetra Bio-Pharma and Ovensa Will Engage in a Collaboration to Tackle Brain Cancer

Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Ovensa Inc. to evaluate TRIOZAN™, a proprietary nanomedicine platform for targeted delivery of cannabinoids to brain tumor cells. [Tetra Bio-Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Reports p53 Drug Candidate Therapeutic Potential Further Supported by Academic Research in Leukemias and in Combination with Cancer Immunotherapies

Innovation Pharmaceuticals reported recent that academic and pre-clinical research further supports the therapeutic potential of Kevetrin, the company’s p53 drug candidate, in leukemias and in combination with cancer immunotherapies. [Innovation Pharmaceuticals] Press Release

‘Friendly’ Reviewers Rate Grant Applications More Highly

Peer reviewers are four times more likely to give a grant application an “excellent” or “outstanding” score rather than a “poor” or “good” one when they are chosen by the grant’s applicants, an analysis of Swiss funding applications has found. [Nature News] Editorial

Indian Scientists Launch Preprint Repository to Boost Research Quality

Researchers in India will soon have their own preprint repository where they can post manuscripts from any discipline. The founders of IndiaRxiv hope it will improve the quality of science in the country. [Nature News] Editorial

Stanford Clears Three Faculty Members of ‘CRISPR Babies’ Involvement

Stanford University cleared three faculty members of any misconduct in their interactions with the Chinese scientist who created “CRISPR babies” last year. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Arab African International Cancer Congress (AAICC)
October 10-11, 2019
Cairo, Egypt

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Position – Molecular Biology and Cancer Research (Augusta University)

Research Scientist – Leukemia Stem/Progenitor Cells (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer and Glioma Stem Cell Biology (Cornell University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Glioblastoma Multiforme Research (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Washington University in St. Louis)

Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor – Breast Cancer (University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – 3D Epigenetic Landscape at Single Cell Level (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)

Postdoctoral & Research Associate Positions – Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, Normal Development, and Aging (Johns Hopkins University)

Faculty Position – Prostate Cancer Biology and Cancer Epigenetics (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)

Tenure Track Faculty Position – Cancer Biology & Therapeutics (Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cancer Stem Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.