TOP STORY Scientists Identify Molecular Predictor of Prognosis for Pancreatic Cancer Patients Researchers analyzed gene profiles of pancreatic tumors from patients with both localized and metastasized disease. They identified a six-gene “signature” associated with metastatic disease. Their study is the first to demonstrate that molecular differences in metastatic pancreatic cancer can be identified at earlier stages and that these differences are predictive of future disease behavior. [Press release from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in PLoS Medicine]
|
|
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal) DIABETES Role of Tet Proteins in 5mc to 5hmc Conversion, Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Inner Cell Mass Specification Studies not only uncover the enzymatic activity of the Tet proteins, but also demonstrate a role for Tet1 in embryonic stem cell maintenance and inner cell mass cell specification. [Nature] MafA and MafB Regulate Genes Critical to Beta Cells in a Unique Temporal Manner MafB was produced in a larger fraction of beta cells than MafA during development and found to regulate potential effectors of glucose sensing, hormone processing, vesicle formation, and insulin secretion. [Diabetes] NOX2 Deficiency Protects Against Streptozotocin-Induced Beta Cell Destruction and Development of Diabetes in Mice NOX2 deficiency decreases beta cell destruction and preserves islet function in streptozotocin-induced diabetes by reducing reactive oxygen species production, immune response and beta cell apoptosis. [Diabetes] Glucolipotoxicity Age-Dependently Impairs Beta Cell Function in Rats despite a Marked Increase in Beta Cell Mass In this in vivo model, glucolipotoxicity is characterised by an age-dependent impairment of glucose-regulated beta cell function despite a marked increase in beta cell mass. [Diabetologia] Hyperinsulinemia Precedes Insulin Resistance in Mice Lacking Pancreatic Beta Cell Leptin Signaling Results suggest that hyperinsulinemia precedes insulin resistance in beta cell leptin receptor-deficient mice, with insulin resistance developing as a secondary consequence of excessive insulin secretion. [Endocrinology] Cell-to-Cell Communication and Cellular Environment Alter the Somatostatin Status of Delta Cells Somatostatin secretion is greatly facilitated by cell-to-cell interactions and E-cadherin expression. Cellular environment and extracellular glucose also significantly influence the function of delta cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] PANCREATIC CANCER A Six-Gene Signature Predicts Survival of Patients with Localized Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Researchers analyzed the gene expression profiles of primary tumors from patients with localized compared to metastatic disease and identified a six-gene signature associated with metastatic disease. [PLoS Med] hsa-miR-520h Downregulates ABCG2 in Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Inhibit Migration, Invasion, and Side Populations Researchers investigated ABCG2 expression in four pancreatic cancer cell lines, and used three microRNA target prediction programs, and information from the existing literature to predict and identify hsa-miR-520h as an microRNA that targets ABCG2. [Br J Cancer] miR-27a Regulates the Growth, Colony Formation and Migration of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Targeting Sprouty2 The data reported here are the first to indicate that miR-27a plays an oncogenic role by targeting Sprouty2 and modulating the malignant, biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells. [Cancer Lett] Pancreatic and Pulmonary Mast Cells Activation During Experimental Acute Pancreatitis Pancreatic mast cells play an important role in triggering the local and systemic inflammatory response in the early stages of acute pancreatitis. [World J Gastroenterol]
|
|
INDUSTRY NEWS Shot in the Arm for Type 1 Diabetes Prevention in Australia The Australian Federal Government committed $6.5 million over the next five years for the Diabetes Vaccine Development Centre to continue its work. [Garvan Institute Press Release] Sernova Announces Positive Results of Its Proprietary Cell Pouch System™ in Preclinical Diabetes Model Sernova Corporation reported positive results from a long-term study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Cell Pouch System™ in a pre-clinical model of diabetes. [Sernova Corporation Press Release] Pfizer Suspends Chronic Pain Studies in Tanezumab Clinical Trial Program; Some Studies Continue in Areas of Unmet Medical Need Pfizer Inc. announced, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the suspension of the chronic low back pain and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy studies in the clinical program for the investigational compound tanezumab. [Pfizer Inc. Press Release] Seattle Genetics and Agensys, an Affiliate of Astellas, Announce Initiation of Phase I Clinical Trial of ASG-5ME for Pancreatic Cancer Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., announced that they have initiated a Phase I clinical trial of ASG-5ME for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. ASG-5ME is an antibody-drug conjugate that is being co-developed by both companies for the treatment of solid tumors. [Seattle Genetics, Inc. Press Release] Single Injection of New Insulin Maintains Tight Glucose Control for 140 Days Extended Delivery Pharmaceuticals, LLC announced that data regarding its lead development candidate, SIA-II Insulin, will be published in the new issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. The manuscript describes multiple studies in vivo, in several species, demonstrating that a single injection of SIA-II maintains tight glucose control for over 140 days. [Extended Delivery Pharmaceuticals, LLC Press Release] Biodel Reports Progress with Development of Glucose-Regulated ‘Smart’ Basal Insulin Biodel Inc. reported results of preclinical tests which demonstrated the potential of the company’s glucose-regulated or “smart” basal insulin product candidate, BIOD620, to release insulin proportionally in response to changing glucose conditions. [Biodel Inc. Press Release] GlaxoSmithKline Statement in Response to FDA Advisory Committees’ Vote on Safety of Avandia® (Rosiglitazone) GlaxoSmithKline confirmed that a joint advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to allow Avandia to remain on the market. Committee members voted for recommendations ranging from making no changes to the current label, to revising the label with additional warnings and restrictions (20) to withdrawal from the U.S. market (12). [GlaxoSmithKline Press Release]
|
|
POLICY NEWS Avandia Gets Equivocal Vote from FDA Panel An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reached a mixed vote regarding the fate of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia). [Food and Drug Administration, United States] House Panel Approves 3.2% Raise for NIH in 2011 A House of Representatives spending panel yesterday approved a $1 billion increase, to $32 billion, in the 2011 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [National Institutes of Health, United States] NIH Expands National Network for Transforming Clinical and Translational Research Nine health research centers have received funds to develop ways to reduce the time it takes for clinical research to become treatments for patients. The funds were awarded as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program which is led by the National Center for Research Resources. [National Institutes of Health, United States] Proposed Diabetes Funding Needs More Than Fine-Tuning, Australia The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is urging the government to meaningfully consult with the College and other stakeholders, including the Australian Medical Association and Diabetes Australia, in relation to its program for people with diabetes. As currently proposed, the government’s diabetes program does not have the College’s support. [Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australia] European Union Urged to Take Action on Diabetes and Other Chronic Conditions A coalition of organizations representing people with chronic conditions is campaigning for the introduction of measures to address poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive use of alcohol and smoking in a bid to improve the health of people across Europe. [The International Diabetes Federation, Europe] Ireland Keeps Light Shining on Science with New Spending In a surprise move, the Irish government (which is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy) announced that it would inject EUR359 million into research. [Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions, Ireland] Russian Researchers Call for Better Coordination of Science More than 2200 researchers sent an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week asking the government to set Russian science in order and to consult with the scientific community when making major science-policy decisions. [Russia] ‘Game Over’ for British Science? The Royal Society and the British Academy strongly warned the British government that looming cuts to science funding could be “irreversibly catastrophic for the future of U.K. science and economic growth” if they go too far. [The Royal Society and the British Academy, United Kingdom] Office of Biotechnology Activities; Recombinant DNA Research: Proposed Action Under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) (Doc. 2010-17668) [National Institutes of Health, United States] Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN) (NOT-CA-10-032) [National Institutes of Health, United States] 2011 NIH Directors New Innovator Award Program (DP2) (RFA-RM-10-009) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
|
|
EVENTS (Listed by Date) NEW The Tissue & Cell Engineering Society 2010 Meeting July 28-30, 2010 Manchester, United Kingdom 2010 World Cancer Congress August 18-21, 2010 Shenzhen, China Select Biosciences Inaugural Cellular Therapy Summit August 24-25, 2010 Edinburgh, Scotland NEW Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference August 24-25, 2010 Edinburgh, Scotland NEW Select Biosciences 2nd Annual World Biobanking Summit August 24-25, 2010 Edinburgh, Scotland The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Meeting – Advancing the Life Sciences September 4-7, 2010 Barcelona, Spain The Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) 2010 Scientific Meeting September 9-10, 2010 Oxford, United Kingdom Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010 September 13-15, 2010 Philadelphia, United States Annual Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress September 19-23, 2010 Sydney, Australia Institute of Medicine – University of Illinois at Chicago Midwest Conference on Diabetes and Obesity September 21, 2010 Chicago, United States 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress October 8-12, 2010 Milan, Italy Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010 October 29-30, 2010 Leipzig, Germany 2010 American Pancreatic Association (APA) Annual Meeting November 3-6, 2010 Chicago, United States Select Biosciences International Forum on Stem Cells November 12-13, 2010 Tianjin, China NEW Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Dysfunction January 12-17, 2011 Dillon, United States NEW Epithelial Plasticity and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition January 21-26, 2011 Vancouver, Canada Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Recruit Top Talent Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities with Cell Therapy News. Visit here to post your career opportunities.
Have we missed an important article or publication in Pancreatic Cell News? Click here to submit!
|
|
|
|