Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.16 | May 1 2019

TOP STORY

Adaptive Immune Resistance Emerges from Tumor-Initiating Stem Cells

Scientists discovered that during malignancy, tumor-initiating stem cells (tSCs) selectively acquired CD80, a surface ligand previously identified on immune cells. Moreover, upon engaging cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, CD80-expressing tSCs directly dampened cytotoxic T cell activity. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Targeting the RNA m⁶A Reader YTHDF2 Selectively Compromises Cancer Stem Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

YTHDF2 decreased the half-life of diverse m⁶A transcripts that contributed to the overall integrity of leukemic stem cell (LSC) function, including the tumor necrosis factor receptor Tnfrsf2, whose upregulation in Ythdf2-deficient LSCs primed cells for apoptosis. [Cell Stem Cell] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Antitumor Efficacy of Arsenic/Interferon in Preclinical Models of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Resistant to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

The arsenic trioxide/interferon-α combination was tested in vitro on imatinib-resistant K562-R and Ar230-R cells. In vivo, a retroviral transduction/transplantation T315I BCR-ABL chronic myeloid leukemia mouse model was used to assay the effect of the treatment on survival, tumor burden, and leukemia-initiating cell activity. [Cancer] Abstract

Self-Assembling Peptide-Based Multifunctional Nanofibers for Electrochemical Identification of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells

Breast cancer stem cells were first captured by nucleolin aptamer immobilized on the electrode surface and then selectively recognized by multifunctional nanofibers through binding with CD44, thereby offering a large number of azide group for signal labeling. [Anal Chem] Abstract

The PAX6-ZEB2 Axis Promotes Metastasis and Cisplatin Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through PI3K/AKT Signaling

PAX6 was commonly correlated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-mediated stem cell transformation, thereby inducing cisplatin resistance. Using the RT² Profiler PCR Array, the authors found that WNT5A, EGFR, and ZEB2 were differentially regulated in response to PAX6 modulation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

R406 Elicits Anti-Warburg Effect via Syk-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms to Trigger Apoptosis in Glioma Stem Cells

R406 significantly inhibited neurosphere formation and triggered apoptosis in glioma stem cells (GSCs). R406 induced a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation and subsequently production of excess reactive oxygen species in GSCs. R406 also diminished tumor growth and efficiently sensitized gliomas to temozolomide in GSC-initiating xenograft mouse models. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Lymph-Circulating Tumor Cells Show Distinct Properties to Blood-Circulating Tumor Cells and Are Efficient Metastatic Precursors

Investigators found that the gene and protein expression profiles of lymph-circulating tumor cells (LCTCs) and blood circulating tumor cells (BCTCs) as they exit the primary tumor were similar, but distinct from those of primary tumors and lymph node metastases. LCTCs, but not BCTCs, existed in clusters, displayed a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype and cancer stem cell-like properties, and were efficient metastatic precursors. [Mol Oncol] Abstract | Full Article

Salinomycin-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles for Treating Cancer Stem Cells by Ferroptosis-Induced Cell Death

Salinomycin (Sal) was conjugated with biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with poly(ethylene glycol) to improve its specificity in targeting breast CSCs (BCSCs). BCSCs derived from CD24^low/CD44^high subpopulation showed high sensitivity to Sal-AuNP treatment. [Mol Pharm] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

PTPRK Expression Is Downregulated in Drug Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines, and Especially in ALDH1A1 Positive CSCs-Like Populations

Researchers showed a decreased level of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type K (PTPRK) expression in ovarian cancer cell lines resistant to cisplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, topotecan, vincristine and methotrexate. Additionally, the lower PTPRK expression was observed in aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1) positive CSCs population, suggesting the role of PTPRK downregulation in primary as well as acquired resistance to cytotoxic drugs. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

The Efficacy of a Coordinated Pharmacological Blockade in Glioblastoma Stem Cells with Nine Repurposed Drugs Using the CUSP9 Strategy

Using patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) stem cell cultures from 15 GBM patients, scientists described stem cell properties of individual cultures, determined the dose-response relationships of the drugs in the CUSP9, and assessed the efficacy the CUSP9 combination with temozolomide in concentrations clinically achievable. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Full Article

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

Exosomes, Metastases, and the Miracle of Cancer Stem Cell Markers

Despite overwhelming progress in unraveling the metastatic cascade and the multiple tasks taken over by cancer-initiating cells (CIC)-task via exosomes (TEX), there remains a considerable gap in linking CIC biomarkers, TEX, and TEX-initiated target modulation with metastasis. [Cancer Metastasis Rev] Abstract

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

Medicenna Announces Completion of Enrolment in MDNA55 Phase IIb Recurrent Glioblastoma Clinical Study

Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. announced that it has completed enrollment in the Phase IIb clinical study of MDNA55 for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. [Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.] Press Release

TC BioPharm Initiates Phase I Trial of Allogeneic Gamma Delta T Cell Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

TC BioPharm announced it has initiated a Phase I clinical study of TCB002, an allogeneic cell therapy consisting of activated and expanded gamma delta T cells. The trial, for treatment of patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia, is being conducted at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague, Czech Republic. [TC BioPharm Ltd.] Press Release

Xencor Announces Partial Clinical Hold Lifted on Phase I Study of XmAb^®14045

Xencor, Inc. announced the FDA has lifted the partial clinical hold that was placed on the Phase I study of XmAb14045, a CD123 x CD3 bispecific antibody molecule being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia and other CD123-expressing hematologic malignancies. [Xencor, Inc.] Press Release

Thousands of Scientists in Argentina Strike to Protest Budget Cuts

Scientists from labs across Argentina stayed home, joining a nationwide strike against the government’s latest round of austerity measures. One of their key rallying points: a call to restore lost opportunities for young researchers who began their education during a time of high investment in science but now have little hope of continuing their careers in Argentina. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

House Democrats Move to Resurrect Congress’s Science Advisory Office

Democrats in the US House of Representatives want to bring back Congress’s long-dead science advice office. A draft funding bill released today calls for providing $6 million to re-establish the Office of Technology Assessment, which Republican lawmakers killed in 1995. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW EMBL Conference: Cancer Genomics
November 4-7, 2019
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Principal Investigator – Cancer Research (The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejang University)

NEW Research Associates – Cell Competition in Cancer (University of Bristol)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Bone Marrow Niche Contribution to Leukemia (Karolinska Institutet)

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

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)

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.