Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.21 | Jun 3 2014

Imatinib Mesylate Stimulates Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 1-Mediated ERK Phosphorylation in Insulin Producing Cells
Scientists studied LRP1 function in beta-cells and to what extent imatinib modulates LRP1 activity. LRP1 and c-Abl gene knockdown was performed by RNAi using rat INS-1 832/13 and human EndoC1-bH1 cells. [Clin Sci] Abstract

Maternal Inheritance of an Inactive Type III Deiodinase Gene Allele Affects Mouse Pancreatic β-Cells and Disrupts Glucose Homeostasis
Researchers used heterozygous D3KO animals to study the allelic expression pattern of Dio3 in pancreatic β-cells and the metabolic phenotype resulting from its inactivation. [Endocrinology] Abstract

Quantitative Proteomics Reveals the Link between Minichromosome Maintenance Complex and Glucose-Induced Proliferation of Rat Pancreatic INS-1E β-Cells
Scientists applied the SILAC strategy to INS-1E cells cultivated with medium or high glucose concentrations for 24 hours, and they targeted nuclear proteins that have a central role in proliferation-related mechanisms. [J Proteomics] Abstract

Transplantation of Betacellulin-Transduced Islets Improves Glucose Intolerance in Diabetic Mice
Researchers transduced islets with adenoviruses expressing betacellulin, an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand, which promotes β-cell growth and differentiation, and transplanted these islets under the renal capsule of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

PANCREATIC CANCER

Targeting the Warburg Effect with a Novel Glucose Transporter Inhibitor to Overcome Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
The effects of gemcitabine and/or CG-5 on viability, survival, glucose uptake, and DNA damage were evaluated in gemcitabine-sensitive and -resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Profiling and Targeting of Cellular Bioenergetics: Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation
Scientists mapped the two intrinsic cellular bioenergetic parameters, oxygen consumption rate and proton production rate in six different pancreatic cancer cell lines and determined their differential sensitivity to mitochondrial and glycolytic inhibitors. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Gemcitabine Diphosphate Choline Is a Major Metabolite Linked to the Kennedy Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer Models In Vivo
Researchers used a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: KRAS^G12D; p53^R172H; pdx-Cre that recapitulates the human disease to study gemcitabine intra-tumoral metabolism. [Br J Cancer] Full Article

XMD8-92 Inhibits Pancreatic Tumor Xenograft Growth via DCLK1-Dependent Mechanism
Scientists showed that XMD8-92 inhibits AsPC-1 cancer cell proliferation and tumor xenograft growth. XMD8-92 treated tumors demonstrated significant downregulation of doublecortin-like kinase1 (DCLK1) and several of its downstream targets via upregulation of tumor suppressor miRNAs. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Pancreatic Cancer Cell Glycosylation Regulates Cell Adhesion and Invasion through the Modulation of α2β1 Integrin and E-Cadherin Function
Scientists addressed the role of a glycosylation pattern in the functional properties of two glycoproteins involved in the processes of cancer cell invasion and migration, α2β1 integrin, the main receptor for type 1 collagen, and E-cadherin, responsible for cell-cell contacts and whose deregulation determines cell invasive capabilities. [PLoS One] Full Article

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

Post-Hoc Analysis of Overall Survival in Phase III MPACT Study of Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Presented
Celgene Corporation announced updated overall survival results from a post-hoc analysis of its Phase III MPACT (Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Clinical Trial) study of ABRAXANE^® in combination with gemcitabine in treatment-naïve patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. [Press release from Business Wire discussing research presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago]
Press Release

Results of Phase I Study of DMOT4039A, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Pancreatic or Ovarian Cancer
Researchers describe the results of a Phase I clinical trial of the investigational agent DMOT4039A against pancreatic and ovarian cancers. In this early clinical trial with the goal of identifying possible risks and defining likely dosages, the drug was well tolerated and in some patients showed initial evidence of anti-cancer activity. [Press release from University of Colorado Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release

From our sponsor: Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and CytomX Therapeutics Announce Worldwide Collaboration to Develop Probody™ Therapeutics Against Multiple Immuno-Oncology Targets
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. announced the companies have signed a worldwide research collaboration and license agreement to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies against multiple immuno-oncology targets using CytomX’s proprietary Probody™ Platform. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

Conrad T. Prebys Gives $25 Million to Salk Institute to Support Scientific Research
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies has received a $25 million gift from San Diego philanthropist and former Salk trustee Conrad T. Prebys to support cutting-edge biological research on a wide range of diseases. [The Salk Institute for Biological Studies] Press Release

InSphero Launches 3D InSight™ Pancreatic Microislets for Diabetes and Toxicity Research
InSphero AG announced the launch of 3D InSight™ Human and Rat Pancreatic Microislets, further expanding the company’s catalog of organotypic 3D models produced using their patented hanging-drop production technology. [InSphero AG] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Calcium Signaling (Brigham & Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Position – Role of Calreticulin in TGF-Beta Signaling in the Kidney Proximal Tubule under Diabetic Conditions (University of Alabama)

Staff Scientist and Postdoctoral Positions – Beta Cell Biology and Diabetes Research (Sanford Research / USD)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Diabetes (Lund University Diabetes Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Pancreatic Cancer (CNIO – Spanish National Cancer Research Center)

Associate Academic Staff – Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Diabetes Researchers – Pathway to Stop Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.