Pancreatic Cell News Volume 5.38 | Oct 7 2014

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    Pancreatic Cell News 5.38 October 7, 2014

    Pancreatic Cell News

         In this issue: Publications | Reviews | Science News | Industry News | Policy News | Events | Jobs
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    TOP STORY
    Comprehensive Genomic Profiling of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinomas Identifies Recurrent RAF Fusions and Frequent Inactivation of DNA Repair Genes
    SND1-BRAF transformed cells were sensitive to treatment with the MEK inhibitor, trametinib. Pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas lacking RAF rearrangements were significantly enriched for genomic alterations causing inactivation of DNA repair genes. [Cancer Discov] Abstract | Full Article
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    PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
    DIABETES & PANCREATITIS

    Cadherin Engagement Improves Insulin Secretion of Single Human β-Cells
    Researchers assessed whether cadherin-mediated adhesion of human islet cells was affected by insulin secretagogues and explore the role of cadherins in the secretory activity of β-cells. [Diabetes] Abstract

    Postnatal Beta Cell Proliferation and Mass Expansion Is Dependent on the Transcription Factor Nkx6.1
    Scientists show that Nkx6.1 is required for postnatal beta cell mass expansion. Genetic inactivation of Nkx6.1 in newly-formed beta cells caused a drastic decrease in early postnatal beta cell proliferation, leading to reduced beta cell mass and glucose intolerance. [Diabetes] Abstract

    Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase-1 Preserves Beta Cell Function
    Investigators determined whether selective inhibition of NADPH oxidase-1 presents a new strategy to preserve beta cell function. Induced beta cell dysfunction was studied in primary human donor islets, isolated mouse islets and murine beta cell lines. [Diabetologia] Abstract

    Identification of Small Molecules that Protect Pancreatic β Cells against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Cell Death
    Researchers developed a novel β cell-based high-throughput screening assay to identify small molecules that protect β cells against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death. [ACS Chem Biol] Abstract

    Pancreatic and Duodenal Homeobox Protein 1 (Pdx-1) Maintains Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Levels through Transcriptional Regulation of Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase 2b (SERCA2b) in the Islet β Cell
    siRNA-mediated knockdown of Pdx-1 was performed in INS-1 cells. Results revealed reduced SERCA2b expression and decreased endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, which was measured using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

    PANCREATIC CANCER

    RABL6A Promotes G1-S Phase Progression and Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Proliferation in an Rb1-Dependent Manner
    Researchers found amplification of a putative oncogene, RABL6A, in primary human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) that correlated with high level RABL6A protein expression. Stable silencing of RABL6A in cultured BON-1 PNET cells revealed that it is essential for their proliferation and survival. [Cancer Res] Abstract

    Gemcitabine Induces Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) Degradation through Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer
    Scientists demonstrate that gemcitabine induces DNA-damage response and degradation of mono-ADP ribosylated PARP-1 through the autophagy pathway in pancreatic cancer cells, which is rescued by inhibiting autophagy. [PLoS One] Full Article

    Elevation of MMP-9 and IDO Induced by Pancreatic Cancer Cells Mediates Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction
    Natural killer (NK) cells isolated from fresh healthy peripheral blood were co-cultured with normal human pancreatic ductal cells hTERT-HPNE and human pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 and BxPc-3 in vitro. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

    GDC-0980-Induced Apoptosis Is Enhanced by Autophagy Inhibition in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells
    Researchers examined the activity of GDC-0980, a novel class I phosphoinositide-3 kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase inhibitor, against pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. GDC-0980 inhibited AKT-mTOR activation and pancreatic cancer cell survival. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

    Elevated Expression Level of Long Noncoding RNA MALAT-1 Facilitates Cell Growth, Migration and Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer
    Researchers showed that metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT-1) expression levels were upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous controls. Consistently, higher expression level of MALAT-1 was found in seven pancreatic cancer cell lines relative to a human pancreatic ductal epithelial cell. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

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    REVIEWS
    Glucocorticoid Treatment and Endocrine Pancreas Function
    In this review, the authors consider the impact of glucocorticoid treatment on peripheral insulin resistance, islet function and glucose homeostasis. [J Endocrinol] Abstract | Full Article

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

     
    SCIENCE NEWS
    Intarcia Announces Two Positive Phase III Trials for ITCA 650 in Type 2 Diabetes: FREEDOM-1 and FREEDOM-1 High Baseline (HBL) Study Results
    Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. announced successful top-line results from two of its four Phase III clinical trials for ITCA 650. [Press release from Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Annual Meeting, Boston] Press Release

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    INDUSTRY NEWS
    Halozyme Receives Orphan Drug Designation for PEGylated Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20 for Pancreatic Cancer
    Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation for PEGylated recombinant human hyaluronidase (PEGPH20) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

    CORD:USE Is Pleased to Announce It Has Partnered with Tianhe Stem Cell Biotechnologies
    CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank announced that it has entered into an Equity and Exclusive Services Agreement with Tianhe Stem Cell Biotechnologies, Inc. which has licensed a series of patented technologies for the isolation of human cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells for possible clinical applications. In patients with moderate or severe Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), a single treatment produced lasting improvement in metabolic control. [CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

    Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Appoints Barbara Tavrow as Senior Vice President
    The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation announced the appointment of Barbara Tavrow as senior vice president. [Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

     
    POLICY NEWS
    National Institutes of Health (United States)

    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)

     
    EVENTS
    NEW CIRM Showcase: Accelerating Stem Cell Treatments to Patients
    November 5, 2014
    San Francisco, United States

    NEW Global Controls in Stem Cells
    November 5-7, 2014
    Singapore, Singapore

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

     
    JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    NEW Research Assistant РDiabetes/Metabolic Health (The Nestl̩ Institute of Health Sciences)

    NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Biochemistry (University of Utah)

    NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genome Analysis (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research)

    NEW Clinical Research Assistant – Diabetes (University of Massachusetts)

    Full or Associate Professor – Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (University of Pennsylvania)

    Research Associate – Bioengineering (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

    Research Fellow – Molecular and Cellular Cancer Chronotherapeutics Research (The University of Warwick)

    Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Systems & Precision Cancer Medicine (Institute of Cancer Research)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology Endoderm Lineages (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

    Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

    Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)


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