Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.32 | Aug 21 2019

TOP STORY

A Marker-Independent Lineage-Tracing System to Quantify Clonal Dynamics and Stem Cell Functionality in Cancer Tissue

Researchers describe a novel method for the quantitative analysis of clonal dynamics in grafted cancer tissues. The protocol involved the preparation and validation of cells for lineage tracing, establishment of grafts and label induction, analysis of clone-size distribution and fitting of the experimental data to a mathematical tumor growth model. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Tumoricidal Stem Cell Therapy Enables Killing in Novel Hybrid Models of Heterogeneous Glioblastoma

The authors used organotypic brain slice explants and distinct human glioblastoma cell types to generate heterogeneous models ex vivo and in vivo. They then tested the efficacy of mono- and combination therapy with primary tumoricidal neural stem cell and fibroblast-derived human induced neural stem cells engineered with TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or enzyme-prodrug therapy. [Neuro Oncol] Abstract

miR-367 as a Therapeutic Target in Stem-Like Cells from Embryonal Central Nervous System Tumors

Investigators showed that miR-367 is carried in microvesicles derived from embryonal central nervous syndrome tumor cells expressing OCT4A and that inhibition of miR-367 in these cells attenuated their aggressive traits. miR-67 silencing in OCT4A-overexpressing tumor cells significantly reduced their proliferative and invasive behavior, clonogenic activity, and tumorsphere generation capability. [Neuro Oncol] Abstract

Cell Phenotypic Plasticity Requires Autophagic Flux Driven by YAP/TAZ Mechanotransduction

In tumor cells, the YAP/TAZ-autophagy connection was key to sustaining transformed traits and for acquisition of a cancer stem cell state by otherwise more benign cells. Mechanistically, YAP/TAZ promoted autophagic flux by directly promoting the expression of Armus, a RAB7-GAP required for autophagosome turnover and whose add-back rescued autophagy in YAP/TAZ-depleted cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

miR-221 Targets QKI to Enhance the Tumorigenic Capacity of Human Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells

Researchers compared the expression levels of 754 miRNAs between paired samples of EpCAM⁺/CD44⁺ cancer cells and EpCAM⁺/CD44^neg cancer cells sorted in parallel from human primary colorectal cancer cells, and identified miR-221 as the miRNA that displayed the highest level of preferential expression in EpCAM⁺/CD44⁺ cancer cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Mutations Associated with a 17-Gene Leukemia Stem Cell Score and Its Prognostic Relevance in the Context of the European LeukemiaNet Classification for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Investigators generated a previously described 17-gene expression score comprising genes differently expressed between leukemia stem cells and leukemic bulk blasts, for 934 adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia, and studied associations of the 17-gene leukemia stem cell score with clinical data and mutation status of 81 genes recurrently mutated in cancer and leukemia. [Haematologica] Abstract

miR-504 Suppresses Mesenchymal Phenotype of Glioblastoma by Directly Targeting the FZD7-Mediated Wnt-β-Catenin Pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) cell migration and invasion were examined using wound healing and Transwell assays. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression in GBM cell lines was detected with immunofluorescence and western blotting. The stemness activity of glioma stem-like cells was assessed by sphere formation assay and tumor xenograft model. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Full Article

Strategy of Differentiation Therapy: Effect of Dual-Frequency Ultrasound on the Induction of Liver Cancer Stem-Like Cells on a HA-Based Multilayer Film System

Scientists developed a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based multilayer film system for selecting CSC-like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell colonies. They assessed the differentiation therapy of HCC CSCs using dual-frequency low-intensity ultrasound. [J Mater Chem B Mater Biol Med] Abstract

11PS04 Is a New Chemical Entity Identified by MicroRNA-Based Biosensing with Promising Therapeutic Potential against Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists used an amperometric dual magnetosensor capable of monitoring a microRNA-21/microRNA-205 signature to screen for new drugs that restored these miRs to non-tumorigenic levels in cell models of breast cancer and glioblastoma. They identified a new chemical entity, 11PS04 ((3aR,7aS)-2-(3-propoxyphenyl)-7,7a-dihydro-3aH-pyrano[3,4-d]oxazol-6(4H)-one), the therapeutic potential of which was suggested in mechanistic assays of disease models, including 3D cell culture and xenografts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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SOX2 in Development and Cancer Biology

Findings indicate that studying the role of SOX2 in the context of cancer progression could lead to the development of new therapeutic options. The authors summarize the current knowledge about the role of SOX2 in development, maintenance of stemness, cancer progression and the resistance towards cancer therapies. [Semin Cancer Biol] Full Article

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Grant-Funded Collaboration with Exosome Platform

ReNeuron Group plc announced that it is partnering with the University of Cardiff under a new grant-funded collaboration utilizing ReNeuron’s exosome-based drug delivery technology platform. The grant has been awarded under Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership and will fund a £250,000 collaborative programme of research to be undertaken by ReNeuron and the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute at Cardiff University. [ReNeuron Group plc] Press Release

Brain Cancer Patients Display Decreasing Tumor Biomarkers after Treatment with Novel Immunotherapy in AIVITA Biomedical’s Phase II Clinical Trial

AIVITA Biomedical, Inc. announced updated clinical data from its ongoing glioblastoma Phase II clinical trial, investigating AIVITA’s platform immunotherapy targeting tumor-initiating cells. Blood plasma biomarker analyses have identified a robust immune response and a decrease of tumor biomarkers in 65% of treated patients, in a sample that represents 29% of the total Phase II clinical trial size. [AIVITA Biomedical, Inc.] Press Release

Stem Cell Researcher Irving Weissman Awarded Albany Prize

Irving Weissman, MD, director of Stanford’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, will receive the 2019 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research for his pioneering work in stem cell and cancer biology, including the identification of blood-forming stem cells and their role in blood cancers, as well as the discovery of a “don’t eat me” signal on the surface of many cancer cells that protects them from being eliminated by the immune system. [Standford Medicine] Press Release

FDA on Novartis Data Manipulation Controversy: ‘We Happened to Be Lucky’

Since the Food and Drug Administration blasted Novartis earlier this month over data manipulation, one of the major questions looming over the matter has been why the agency came down so publicly on the drug maker. The answer, according to a top FDA official, is because the stakes were too high to do otherwise. [STAT] Editorial

Brazil’s Budget Cuts Threaten More Than 80,000 Science Scholarships

Brazil’s main science-funding agency will have to suspend more than 80,000 scholarships to postdoctoral researchers and graduate and undergraduate students starting in September unless it receives additional cash from the government. [Nature News] Editorial

The Push to Replace Journal Supplements with Repositories

Broken links, clunky formats, and outdated platforms have both authors and publishers turning to alternative solutions. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Cell Death in Immunity and Inflamation
October 6-9, 2019
Crete, Greece

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Progression (NIH/NCI – Center for Cancer Research)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Assciate Professor – Immunology (Precision Immunology Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Cancer and Luekemia (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Postdoctral Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cell Biology (McGill University Health Centre)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer Stem Cells in Glioblastoma (The Institut Curie Research Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Leukemia (The Jackson Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Reprogramming Glioblastoma (Lund University)

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

Postdoctoral Scientist – Cancer Organoids (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Research Lab Specialist – Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Behavior (University of Southern California)

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