Cell Therapy News Volume 17.01 | Jan 11 2016

Human Pancreatic Beta-Like Cells Converted from Fibroblasts
Scientists showed the conversion of human fibroblasts towards an endodermal cell fate by employing non-integrative episomal reprogramming factors in combination with specific growth factors and chemical compounds. Transplanted converted pancreatic beta-like cells exhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo and protected mice from chemically induced diabetes. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Enhanced Engraftment, Proliferation, and Therapeutic Potential in Heart Using Optimized Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes
To optimize graft cells for cardiac reconstruction, scientists compared the engraftment efficiency of intramyocardially-injected undifferentiated-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), day four mesodermal cells, and day eight, day 20, and day 30 purified iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes after initial differentiation by tracing the engraftment ratio using in vivo bioluminescence imaging. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Potency of Umbilical Cord Blood- and Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Scarless Wound Healing
Investigators failed to find significant benefits for stem cell therapy in improving wound healing and reducing collagen deposition following the direct injection of 1.0 × 10⁵ umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Wharton’s jelly MSCs into 5 mm full-thickness skin defect sites in nude mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Injectable Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Researchers evaluated the presumed neuroregenerative properties of extracellular matrix hydrogels in vivo in the acute model of spinal cord injury. Both types of hydrogels integrated into the lesion and stimulated neovascularization and axonal ingrowth into the lesion. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

PIK3CA and PIK3CB Silencing by RNAi Reverses MDR and Inhibits Tumorigenic Properties in Human Colorectal Carcinoma
Researchers found that the downregulation of PIK3CA and PIK3CB reversed multidrug resistance (MDR); inhibited the capability of proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells; and slowed down the CRC tumor growth in nude mice. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

The STEAP1_262–270 Peptide Encapsulated into PLGA Microspheres Elicits Strong Cytotoxic T Cell Immunity in HLA-A*0201 Transgenic Mice—A New Approach to Immunotherapy against Prostate Carcinoma
Vaccination with STEAP1_262-270 peptide encapsulated in PLGA microspheres could effectively crossprime cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vivo. These CTLs recognized STEAP1_262–270/HLA-A*0201 complexes on human dendritic cells and prostate cancer cell lines and specifically lysed target cells in vivo. [Prostate] Abstract

IL-2 / α-IL-2 Complex Treatment Cannot Be Substituted for the Adoptive Transfer of Regulatory T Cells to Promote Bone Marrow Engraftment
Scientists investigated whether interleukin-2 (IL-2) complexes can replace regulatory T cell therapy in a costimulation blockade-based and irradiation-free bone marrow transplantation model. [PLoS One] Full Article

Current Status of Treating Neurodegenerative Disease with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Investigators focus on the current accomplishments and remaining challenges in the production and use of induced pluripotent stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. [Acta Neurol Scand] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell, gene and immunotherapy research fields.

Celsion Reports Translational Research Data from Its Phase Ib Study of GEN-1 Immunotherapy in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
New data demonstrated that intraperitoneally-administered GEN-1 produces an immunologically distinct IL-12 protein that is localized at the tumor site and lasts for up to one week after a single treatment. [Celsion Corporation] Press Release

Dutch Lead European Push to Flip Journals to Open Access
The Netherlands is leading what it hopes will be a pan-European effort in 2016 to push scholarly publishers towards open-access (OA) business models: making more papers free for all users as soon as they are published. [Nature News] Editorial

Cashing in on Transparency in Science
Psychologist Brian Nosek believes that reproducibility is a core principle of science. To promote the idea, he co-founded a nonprofit organization in 2013 that allows scientists to publish a description of their experiments before they conduct them. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Journals to Solve ‘John Smith’ Common Name Problem by Requiring Author IDs
The scientific community seems to be coalescing around a single researcher identification standard. In an open letter, some of the largest academic publishers and scientific societies are announcing that they will not just encourage, but ultimately require, researchers to sign up with ORCID, a nonprofit organization that uniquely identifies people with a 16-digit number. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Cell Therapy Catapult, University of Birmingham and Cancer Research Technology Launch New Collaboration for CAR-T Cell Immuno-Oncology Therapy Development
The Cell Therapy Catapult, the University of Birmingham and Cancer Research Technology announced the launch of a collaboration to develop a new immuno-oncology cellular therapy based on gene modifying T cells to target solid tumors. [Cell Therapy Catapult] Press Release

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Pfizer and Syndax Announce Collaboration to Evaluate Combination of Avelumab and Entinostat in Ovarian Cancer
Merck KGaA, Pfizer and Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to evaluate avelumab, an investigational, fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in combination with Syndax’s entinostat, an investigational oral, small molecule that targets immune regulatory cells, in patients with heavily pre-treated, recurrent ovarian cancer. [Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Surface Oncology Announces Global Strategic Collaboration to Advance Next-Generation Immunotherapies
Surface Oncology has entered into a broad strategic collaboration with Novartis to develop immunotherapeutics targeting the tumor micro-environment and the interface of innate and adaptive immunity. [Surface Oncology] Press Release

$2.2 Million Federal Grant Funds Study of Diabetes Drug in Wound Healing
Timothy Koh, professor of kinesiology and nutrition, will use a four-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a translational study of the diabetes drug glyburide for wound healing in humans, beginning this summer. [University of Illinois] Press Release

Aduro Biotech Expands Patent Portfolio with Key Newly Issued Composition and Methods Patents
Aduro Biotech, Inc. announced that two patents have been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering composition and methods related to its LADD and GVAX immunotherapy technologies. [Aduro Biotech, Inc.] Press Release

Lion Biotechnologies Submits Investigational New Drug Application to Conduct Studies in Cervical, Head and Neck Cancer
Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. announced that it has filed an investigational new drug application with the United States Food and Drug Administration to conduct clinical trials of LN-145 in the treatment of cervical cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. [Lion Biotechnologies, Inc.] Press Release

Immune Design Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA for Complementary Components of CMB305
Immune Design announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for LV305 and G305 for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. LV305 and G305 are the complementary agents that comprise CMB305, Immune Design’s “prime boost” cancer immunotherapy product candidate. [Immune Design] Press Release

BioLife Solutions Distributor STEMCELL Technologies Will Test the evo™ Smart Shipper and Cloud Based biologistex™ Cold Chain Management App
BioLife Solutions, Inc. announced that STEMCELL Technologies will test BioLife’s evo Smart Shipper and biologistex cold chain SaaS on a variety of temperature sensitive products for research in areas such as cellular therapies, blood cancers, and solid tumors. [BioLife Solutions, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. No: 2016-106)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. No: 2015-33084)

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. No: 2015-33263)

Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; KADCYLA (FR Doc. No: 2015-32475)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – CAR T Cell Engineering & Cancer Immunotherapy (University Hospital Würzburg)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cell Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease (University Health Network)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cell Therapy (Toronto Western Hospital)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Prostate Cancer Biology (Roswell Park Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Follicular Lymphoma (Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cell Cycle Control and Tumorigenesis (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Professor – Regenerative Vision Research (University of Montreal)

Assistant Professor – Regenerative Kidney Research (University of Montreal)

PhD/MSc Position – Cancer Research and Wound Healing (Technion, Israel Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Mechanobiology (Washington University in St. Louis)

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