Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 9.17 | May 06 2020

TOP STORY

The Dopamine Receptor Antagonist Trifluoperazine Prevents Phenotype Conversion and Improves Survival in Mouse Models of Glioblastoma

Trifluoperazine (TFP) caused loss of radiation-induced nanog mRNA expression, and activation of GSK3 with consecutive posttranslational reduction in p-Akt, Sox2, and β-catenin protein levels. TFP did not alter the intrinsic radiation sensitivity of glioma-initiating cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

ERK-Mediated Loss of miR-199a-3p and Induction of EGR1 Act as a “Toggle Switch” of GBM Cell Dedifferentiation into NANOG- and OCT4-positive Cells

Scientists showed that tumor cells exhibiting stem-like properties and expression of pluripotency markers NANOG and OCT4 could arise from original differentiated tumor cells freshly isolated from human glioblastomas and which had never known any serum culture conditions. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Compensation between Wnt-Driven Tumorigenesis and Cellular Responses to Ribosome Biogenesis Inhibition in the Murine Intestinal Epithelium

Investigators characterized the effect of the loss-of-function of Notchless, an essential actor of ribosome biogenesis, on the intestinal epithelium undergoing tumor initiation due to acute Apc loss-of-function. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

YTHDF2 Promotes the Liver Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype and Cancer Metastasis by Regulating OCT4 Expression via m6A RNA Methylation

By detecting CD133⁺ cells and carrying out sphere culture assays, researchers found that knockdown of YTHDF2 led to impaired stemness in Hep3B and Huh7 cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

Radiation-induced Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Release of miR-603 Promotes IGF1-Mediated Stem Cell State in Glioblastomas

Ionizing radiation induced cellular export of miR-603 through EV release, thereby de-repressing IGF1 and IGF1R. This de-repression, in turn, promoted CSC state and acquired radiation resistance in glioblastomas. [EBioMedicine] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Stearoyl-CoA-Desaturase-1 Regulates Gastric Cancer Stem-Like Properties and Promotes Tumor Metastasis via Hippo/YAP Pathway

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) was found to increase the population of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs), whereas its suppression by an SCD1 inhibitor or knockdown by siRNA attenuated the stemness of GCSCs, including chemotherapy resistance and sphere-forming ability. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

PCAT6 Mediates Cellular Biological Functions in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor via Upregulation of PRDX5 and Activation of Wnt Pathway

Ki67 staining, colony formation and trypan blue staining assays revealed that prostate cancer associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) boosted gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cell proliferation but inhibited cell apoptosis. PCAT6 promoted GIST cell proliferation and stemness via sponging miR-143-3p to upregulate peroxiredoxin 5. [Mol Carcinog] Abstract

The Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Syndecan-1 Regulates Colon Cancer Stem Cell Function via a Focal Adhesion Kinase-Wnt Signaling Axis

Syndecan-1 depletion cooperatively enhanced activation of integrins and focal adhesion kinase, which then generated signals for increased invasiveness and CSC properties. [FEBS J] Abstract | Download Full Article

The Limitations of Targeting MEK Signaling in Glioblastoma Therapy

Trametinib had a strong anti-proliferative effect on established glioblastoma cell lines, stem cell-like cells and their differentiated progeny and while it did not enhance anti-proliferative and cell death-inducing properties of the standard treatment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Sevoflurane Modulates the Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential of Glioma via Ca²⁺-Dependent CaMKII/JNK Cascade

Sphere formation assay was performed to evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on the stemness of glioma stem cells (GSCs). Sphere formation ability of GSCs, expression levels of stemness markers and mitochondrial function were significantly suppressed by sevoflurane. [Life Sci] Abstract

Bcl-3 Promotes Wnt Signaling by Maintaining the Acetylation of β-Catenin at Lysine 49 in Colorectal Cancer

Researchers report a novel function of B-cell lymphoma 3 (Bcl-3) in maintaining colorectal cancer stem cell homeostasis by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. [Signal Transduct Target Ther] Full Article

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The Effects of Microgravity on Differentiation and Cell Growth in Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells

The authors review the current knowledge of different types of stem cells exposed to μg conditions with regard to differentiation and engineering of cartilage, bone, vasculature, heart, skin, and liver constructs. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article

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

DelMar Pharmaceuticals Provides Enrollment Update in Phase II Clinical Trial of VAL-083 for Adjuvant Treatment of Brain Tumors

DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has enrolled 22 patients in the adjuvant arm of the company’s ongoing Phase II clinical study investigating adjuvant treatment of MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma multiforme with VAL-083. [DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

TG Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline Results from the UNITY-CLL Phase III Study Evaluating the Combination of Umbralisib and Ublituximab (U2) for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

TG Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive topline results from the global UNITY-CLL Phase III trial evaluating the combination of umbralisib plus ublituximab compared to obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil in patients with previously untreated and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). [TG Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

‘It Will Not Be Easy.’ as Labs Begin to Reopen, Enormous Challenges Remain

One of the biggest challenges labs face is how to keep their members physically distanced to limit any potential spread of SARS-CoV-2. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Coronavirus: Share Lessons on Lifting Lockdowns

Countries are starting to lift restrictions on movement, but there is little consensus on how this should be done. Sharing best practice is the way forward. [Nature News] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Scholarship – RNA Biology in Stem Cells and Cancer Models (University of Gothenburg)

Assistant Professor – Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Leukemia Stem Cell Research (Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute)

PhD Positions – Head and Neck Cancer Stem Cells (The Mildred Scheel Nachwuchszentrum for Cancer Research)

Scientist – Stem Cells and Cellular Biology (Athersys, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Positions – DNA Repair in Leukemia (Temple University School of Medicine)

Associate Professor – Regenerative Medicine (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Position – Glioma Epigenomic Research (NIH National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – RAS Proteins and Cancer Cell Stemness (University of Luxembourg)

Postdoctoral Position – Leukemia and Cancer Stemness (Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Stem Cells (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

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