Intestinal Cell News Volume 3.47 | Dec 8 2017

TOP STORY

NAMPT Is a Potent Oncogene in Colon Cancer Progression that Modulates Cancer Stem Cell Properties and Resistance to Therapy through Sirt1 and PARP

Nicotinamide phosphoribosil transferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the highest source of physiological nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis, increased tumorigenic properties and induced cancer stem cell-like properties through pathways that control stem cell signaling, thus enriching the cancer-initiating cell population. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

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Non-Canonical Hedgehog Signaling Is a Positive Regulator of the WNT Pathway and Is Required for the Survival of Colon Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists used limiting dilution spheroid and serial xenotransplantation assays to functionally define the frequency of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in a panel of patient-derived cancer organoids. These studies demonstrated cancer organoids to be enriched for CSCs, which varied in frequency between tumors. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Contribution of ATOH1⁺ Cells to the Homeostasis, Repair, and Tumorigenesis of the Colonic Epithelium

Investigators showed that a definite number of ATOH1⁺ intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) retain stem cell properties and can form ATOH1⁺IEC-derived clonal ribbons under completely homeostatic conditions. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

A Refined Culture System for Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Intestinal Epithelial Organoids

Researchers present an improved culture system of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal organoids involving four methodological advances. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Mechanisms of Inactivation of the Tumor Suppressor Gene RHOA in Colorectal Cancer

A panel of colorectal cancer cell lines and large cohorts of primary tumors were used to investigate the expression and activity of RHOA, as well as the presence of RHOA mutations/deletions and promoter methylation affecting RHOA. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

MiR-215-5p Is a Tumor Suppressor in Colorectal Cancer Targeting EGFR Ligand Epiregulin and Its Transcriptional Inducer HOXB9

Overexpression of miR-215-5p significantly reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and migration of CRC cells, lead to cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and p53-dependent induction of apoptosis. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Nicotine Increases Colon Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion through Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT): COX-2 Involvement

The authors determined the effect of nicotine on cellular Caco-2 and HCT-8 migration and invasion, focusing on EMT induction and COX-2 pathway involvement. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Novel Ruthenium Methylcyclopentadienyl Complex Bearing a Bipyridine Perfluorinated Ligand Shows Strong Activity towards Colorectal Cancer Cells

Analysis of the phenotypic effects induced by both organometallic complexes [Ru(η⁵-MeCp)(PPh₃)₂Cl] and [Ru(η⁵-MeCp)(PPh₃)(L1)][CF₃SO₃] (Ru2), on human colorectal cancer cells survival, showed that Ru2 has a potent anti-proliferative activity, 4–6 times higher than cisplatin, and induce apoptosis in these cells. [Eur J Med Chem] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Downregulation of Liver–Intestine Cadherin Enhances Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer BGC823 Cells

Researchers investigated the signaling pathway by which cisplatin induces apoptosis by blocking CDH17 gene in gastric cancer BGC823 cells. They indicated that down-expression of CDH17 gene can enhance apoptosis-inducing effects of cisplatin on human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

Biomaterials-Based Approaches to Tumor Spheroid and Organoid Modeling

The authors discuss uses of both natural and synthetic biomaterials to culture cancer cells as spheroids or organoids, specifically highlighting studies that demonstrate how these models recapitulate key properties of native tumors. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

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

Propanc Biopharma Advances towards GMP Manufacture of PRP for Human Trials

Propanc Biopharma Inc. announced that the company has made significant recent progress towards full scale Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) manufacture of its lead product, PRP, for first-In-human studies, expected to commence in 2018. [Propanc Biopharma Inc.] Press Release

Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine Launches in Seattle

Jeffrey and Susan Brotman and Pam and Dan Baty have made a $50 million gift to create the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine that combines the research strengths and capabilities of UW Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s. [UW Medicine] Press Release

Investigation Finds Swedish Scientists Committed Scientific Misconduct

Two Swedish scientists have been found guilty of “misconduct in research” in a paper that they published in Science and later retracted. Their highly publicized work had suggested that tiny particles of plastic in the ocean harm fish. [Nature News] Editorial

Brexit “Breakthrough” Draws Praise from Science Policy Experts

In laboratories throughout the UK, researchers and administrators gave out a collective sigh of relief following a decision to allow EU nationals to remain after the country leaves the union in March 2019. [Nature News] Editorial

U.S. Science Groups Make Last-Minute Push to Influence Final Tax Deal

It wasn’t your typical graduate school experience. Eight graduate students, including doctoral students in anthropology and astrophysics at major U.S. universities, ended up in handcuffs after they refused to end a noisy protest outside the Washington, D.C., office of Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Colorectal Cancer Research Conference 2018
April 24-25, 2018
London, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

NEW Research Assistant – Gastrointestinal Disease (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Stem Cell Metabolism (University of Helsinki)

Group Leader – Cancer Biology (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Emory University)

Research Assistant – Organoid Research (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research)

PhD Student – Stem Cells of the Intestine and the Stomach (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Modeling Physical Processes Underlying Digestion (Massey University)

PhD Studentships – MRC WIMM Prize (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Gastrointestinal Cancers (Baylor Scott & White Health)

Postdoctoral Position – Mucosal Immunology/Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Innate Immune Signaling in the Developing Intestine (UConn Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal Immunology (University of Lorraine)

Postdoctoral Position – Autophagy and Intestinal Inflammation (University of New Mexico)

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