Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.20 | May 29 2019

TOP STORY

Epigenetic Control of Mitochondrial Fission Enables Self-Renewal of Stem-Like Tumor Cells in Human Prostate Cancer

Depletion of CSCs occurred in multiple prostate cancer models, indicating a common vulnerability and dependency on mitochondrial dynamics. These effects depended on rewiring of the BRD4-driven transcription and repression of mitochondrial fission factor. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

RASSF1A Controls Tissue Stiffness and Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Researchers showed that adverse prognosis associated with epigenetic silencing of the tumor suppressor RASSF1A was due to increased deposition of extracellular matrix, tumor stiffness and metastatic dissemination in vitro and in vivo. [EMBO J] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

The Novel Isatin Analog KS99 Targets Stemness Markers In Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KS99 targeted cells coexpressing CD34, CD38, CD123, TIM-3, or CD96 immunophenotypes in acute myeloid leukemia, alone or in combination with the standard therapeutic agent cytarabine. Acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplastic-related changes was more sensitive than de novo acute myeloid leukemia with or without NPM1 mutation. [Haematologica] Abstract

PAK4 Regulates Stemness and Progression in Endocrine Resistant ER-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

Scientists studied the role of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a promising target to overcome endocrine resistance and disease progression in estrogen receptor-positive (ER⁺) breast cancers. PAK4 predicted for resistance to tamoxifen and poor prognosis in two independent cohorts of ER⁺ tumors. [Cancer Lett] Full Article

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels with Defined Crosslink Density for the Efficient Enrichment of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Investigators showed a simple and label-free method for the enrichment of CSCs highly expressing CD44 using enzymatically crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. HA hydrogels were formed with different crosslink densities to modulate the interaction between the CD44 and HA chains. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

A Juxtacrine/Paracrine Loop between C-Kit and Stem Cell Factor Promotes Cancer Stem Cell Survival in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

While tumor cells and CSCs only expressed the membrane-associated stem cell factor (SCF) isoform, both secreted and membrane-bound isoforms were expressed by tumor-associated macrophages and fibroblasts. Circulating monocytes from epithelial ovarian cancer-bearing patients and healthy donors did not express both SCF isoforms. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Estrogen Receptor α-NOTCH1 Axis Enhances Basal Stem-Like Cells and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Phenotypes in Prostate Cancer

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression was significantly higher in CD49f^Hi prostate cancer basal stem-like cells, which showed basal and EMT features with susceptibility to 17β-estradiol treatment. ERα-induced estrogen effects were suggested to drive the NOTCH1 signaling pathway activity via binding to the NOTCH1 promoter. [Cell Commun Signal] Full Article

miR-139-5p Reverses Stemness Maintenance and Metastasis of Colon Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Targeting E2-2

Researchers discovered that miR-139-5p targeted the Wnt/β-catenin/TCF7L2 downstream effector E2-2 in colon CSCs. E2-2 was a pivot molecule in the negative feedback loop of miR-139-5p/Wnt/β-catenin/TCF7L2. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

PES1 Is Regulated by CD44 in Liver Cancer Stem Cells via miR-105-5p

Investigators found that pescadillo was upregulated in C3A-induced CSCs (C3A-iCSCs) and promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, the cancer stem cell marker CD44, which was located in the cytomembrane, translocated to the nucleus and was upregulated in C3A-iCSCs. [FEBS Lett] Abstract

Theophylline Induces Differentiation and Modulates Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Cytokines Secretion in Human Melanoma-Initiating Cells

Scientists demonstrated inhibitory effects of theophylline on melanoma cell proliferation and migration, mainly in melanoma-initiating cells, together with the induction of differentiation parameters. [Life Sci] Abstract

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Off to a Bad Start: Cancer Initiation by Pluripotency Regulator PRDM14

The pluripotency factor PR domain 14 (PRDM14) has a key role in initiating many types of cancer. PRDM14 and its protein-binding partners, the ETO/CBFA2T family, are ideal candidates for eliminating CSCs from relevant cancers, preventing relapse and improving long-term survival. [Trends Genet] Abstract

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells

The authors consider biological features of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) leukemia stem cell (LSCs) defined by assays. They also consider whether CML LSCs are susceptible to targeting by tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other drugs, and whether elimination of CML LSCs is needed to achieve therapy-free remission or cure CML. [Leukemia] Full Article

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Pascal Biosciences to Present

Pascal Biosciences Inc. announced the company will present at the upcoming BIO International Convention. Kevin Egan, VP Business Development at Pascal, will provide a corporate overview presentation highlighting the company’s therapeutic pipeline. Mr. Egan will describe recent advances in Pascal’s PAS-403 program for glioblastoma. [Press release from Pascal Biosciences, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2019 BIO International Convention, Philadelphia] Press Release

Rexgenero Successfully Expands Manufacturing of REX-001 through Partnership with German Red Cross Blood Donor Service

Rexgenero announced that it has successfully expanded manufacturing of its lead development candidate REX-001 through a partnership with the German Red Cross Blood Donor Service in Frankfurt, Germany, signed earlier this year. [Rexgenero Ltd.] Press Release

FDA Approves REVLIMID^® (Lenalidomide) in Combination with Rituximab for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Previously Treated Follicular Lymphoma or Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Celgene Corporation announced the FDA approved REVLIMID^® in combination with a rituximab product for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma following Priority Review designation. [Celgene Corporation] Press Release

Here’s Why the Outcomes of This Week’s European Elections Are Good News for Science

Although populist and euroskeptic parties grew in last week’s elections for the European Parliament, the tsunami that EU supporters feared didn’t happen. That comes as a relief to many scientists, because several of the populist movements now on the rise in Europe appear to have little interest in science, flirt with antiscientific ideas, or have tried to curtail academic freedom. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

White House Sends Mixed Messages on 2020 Research Spending Bills

President Donald Trump doesn’t want Congress to boost the budgets of the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation. But he has no objection to giving more research dollars to parts of the Department of Energy and NASA. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Hallmarks of Cancer
November 17-19, 2019
Seattle, Washington, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Pennsylvania State University)

Faculty Positions – Cancer Research (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Washington University School of Medicine)

BIH Johanna Quand Professorships for Women Scientists – Open Topic (Stiftung Charité and The Berlin Institute of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Stem Cells in Colon Cancer (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Metabolism, Stem Cell Biology & Circadian Clock Distruption (University of California Irvine)

Principal Investigator – Cancer Research (Zhejiang University)

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

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

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

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