Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 8.47 | Dec 04 2019

TOP STORY

Hypoxia-Induced Autophagy Drives Colorectal Cancer Initiation and Progression by Activating the PRKC/PKC-EZR (Ezrin) Pathway

Investigators showed that hypoxia increased the self-renewal capacity of tumor-initiating cells while inducing proliferation arrest in their more differentiated counterpart cultures. Gene expression data revealed macroautophagy/autophagy as one of the major pathways induced by hypoxia in tumor-initiating cells. [Autophagy] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Paracaspase MALT1 Regulates Glioma Cell Survival by Controlling Endo-Lysosome Homeostasis

The knockdown of MALT1 largely impaired the expansion of patient-derived stem-like cells in vitro, and this could be recapitulated with pharmacological inhibitors, in vitro and in vivo. [EMBO J] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Targeting CMTM6 Suppresses Stem Cell-Like Properties and Enhances Antitumor Immunity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Scientists discovered that CMTM6 expression was correlated with increased activity through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which was essential for tumorigenesis, maintenance of the cancer stem cells, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition characteristic of multiple cancers. [Cancer Immunol Res] Abstract

Single-Cell Gene Expression Analyses Reveal Distinct Self-Renewing and Proliferating Subsets in the Leukemia Stem Cell Compartment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Researchers investigated whether proliferation and self-renewal were separate functions in leukemia stem cells as they often could be in hematopoietic stem cells. Distinct transcriptional profiles within leukemia stem cells of Mll-AF9/NRASG12V murine acute myeloid leukemia were identified using single-cell RNA sequencing. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Inhibitors and Doxorubicin Combinations Target Both Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Non-Stem Breast Cancer Cells Simultaneously

Scientists performed high-throughput chemical library screens to identify agents that were effective against breast cancer stem cells and non-cancer stem cells. The hit molecules were paired with conventional chemotherapy to evaluate the combinatorial treatment effects on breast cancer stem cells and non-cancer stem cells. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Actinomycin D and Telmisartan Combination Targets Lung Cancer Stem Cells through the Wnt/Beta Catenin Pathway

The authors report that lung cancer cells grown on a 3D fibrous scaffold form tumoroids that resemble in vivo tumors, expand cancer initiating stem cells, and provide a platform to identify anti-cancer initiating stem cells drugs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

IOX-101 Reverses Drug Resistance through Suppression of Akt/mTOR/NFκB Signaling in Cancer Stem Cell Like, Sphere Forming NSCLC Cells

Drug resistant lung cancer stem like cells were derived from regular A549 cells by growing in special media. Effect of drugs on apoptosis and cell cycle were studied with flow cytometry protocols. [Oncol Res] Abstract

BRCA1-Associated Protein Inhibits Glioma Cell Proliferation and Migration and Glioma Stem Cell Self-Renewal via the TGF-β/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

A short hairpin RNA was used to knock down BRCA1-associated protein (BRAP) and an expression vector was used to exogenously overexpress BRAP in glioma cells. The effects of BRAP expression on tumor cell behavior in vitro and in an in vivo xenograft mouse model were examined. [Cell Oncol] Abstract

cMyc and ERK Activity Are Associated with Resistance to ALK Inhibitory Treatment in Glioblastoma

Efficacy of alectinib was analyzed dependent on anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression in different glioblastoma initiating cells and after lentiviral knockdown of ALK. Alectinib resistant cells were generated by continuous treatment with increasing alectinib doses over three months. [J Neurooncol] Abstract

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Targeting Signaling Pathways and the Immune Microenvironment of Cancer Stem Cells – a Clinical Update

Scientists provide an update on the progress to date in the clinical development of therapeutics targeting the Notch, WNT, Hedgehog and Hippo pathways. They also discuss the interactions between cancer stem cells and the immune system. [Nat Rev Clin Oncol] Abstract

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Adastra Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA and EMA Orphan Drug Designation Has Been Granted for Zotiraciclib in the Treatment of Glioma

Adastra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA and the European Medicines Agency have granted Orphan Drug Designation to zotiraciclib for the treatment of glioma. Zotiraciclib is currently the subject of two separate Phase Ib clinical trials in glioblastoma. [Adastra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PR Newswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Rafael Pharmaceuticals Announces Expansion of Phase II Trial of CPI-613^® for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Burkitt’s Lymphoma/Leukemia to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the expansion of its Phase II clinical trial of CPI-613® (devimistat) for patients with relapsed or refractory Burkitt’s lymphoma/leukemia. [Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Crack Down on Genomic Surveillance

Concerns about the potential downsides of governments being able to interrogate people’s DNA have been voiced since the early 2000s by activist groups, such as the non-profit organization GeneWatch UK, and some geneticists. [Nature News] Editorial

Elsevier Progresses in Open-Access Deal Making

The scholarly publisher has announced several new licensing agreements in both Europe and the US, but some major academic groups are still without contracts and access to journals. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Noncoding RNAs – Mechanism, Function and Therapies
January 12-16, 2020
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Scholar – Cancer Biology and Stem Cells (Washington University School of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics (City of Hope)

Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Biology or Cancer (University of Liège)

Postdoctoral Studentship – HOX Interactors for Leukemia (University of Manchester)

Faculty Positions – Molecular and Cellular Biology (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer Biology (University of Kentucky)

Postdoctoral Position – Cellular Immunotherapy for Cancer (Tactiva Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Assistant, Associate, or Professor – Hematology (Stanford University)

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