Pulmonary Cell News Volume 3.36 | Sep 18 2014

Maintenance of the Bronchial Alveolar Stem Cells in an Undifferentiated State by Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 1
Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) is a critical molecule involved in alveolar duct formation in the lung and investigators demonstrate its importance in controlling cell differentiation during lung injury. Mice lacking SFRP1 exhibited a rapid repair response leading to aberrant proliferation of differentiated cells. Furthermore, SFRP1 treatment of bronchoalveolar stem cells maintained these cells in a quiescent state. [FASEB J] Abstract

Therapeutic Effect of Lung Mixed Culture-Derived Epithelial Cells on Lung Fibrosis
The authors show easily prepared cell populations having therapeutic capacity for lung inflammatory disease named “lung mixed culture-derived epithelial cells” (LMDECs). LMDECs expressed surfactant protein-C and gave rise to type I alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in vitro and in vivo that partly satisfied type II AEC-like characteristics. [Lab Invest] Abstract

The Role of Bronchial Epithelial Cells in the Pathogenesis of COPD in Z-Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Researchers investigated the expression, accumulation, and secretion of Z-alpha-1 antitrypsin and its polymers in cultures of transfected cells and in cells originating from alpha-1 antitrypsin-deficient patients. [Respir Res] Abstract | Full Article

Attenuation of Airway Inflammation by Simvastatin and the Implications for Asthma Treatment: Is the Jury Still Out?
Scientists not only evaluated the therapeutic potential and inhibitory mechanism of simvastatin in an ovalbumin-specific asthma model in mice but also sought to clarify the future directions indicated by previous studies through a thorough review of the literature. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Two Novel ALK Mutations Mediate Acquired Resistance to the Next-Generation ALK Inhibitor Alectinib
Scientists established a cell line model of alectinib resistance, and analyzed a resistant tumor specimen from a patient who had relapsed on alectinib. They developed Ba/F3 models harboring alectinib-resistant ALK mutations and evaluated the potency of other next-generation ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in these models. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Downregulation of Ribosomal Protein S6 Inhibits the Growth of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest, rather than Apoptosis
Scientists show that expressions of total ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) and phosphorylation rpS6 were both significantly overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer. Experiments showed that downregulation of rpS6 dramatically inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Pigment Epithelial-Derived Factor (PEDF)-Triggered Lung Cancer Cell Apoptosis Relies on a p53-Driven Fas-L Up-Regulation and Fas Cell Surface Translocation
The authors report that PEDF has a growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effect on lung cancer xenografts. In vitro, PEDF apparently induced apoptosis in A549 and Calu-3 cells predominantly via the Fas-L/Fas death signaling pathway. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Astragaloside IV Inhibits Migration and Invasion in Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells via Regulating
PKC-α-ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway
Astagaloside IV (AS-IV), an effective saponin component isolated from Astragali Radix, has been reported to inhibit metastasis of tumor cells. Investigators show that the migration and invasion ability of A549 is suppressed in the presence of AS-IV. [Int Immunopharmacol] Abstract

The Influence of mtDNA Deletion on Lung Cancer Cells under the Conditions of Hypoxia and Irradiation
Researchers evaluated the influence of mtDNA deletion on lung cancer cells under the conditions of hypoxia or irradiation. The mtDNA deletion could inhibit the biosynthesis and metabolism of lung cancer cells and promote the effect of hypoxia and radiation on lung cancer cells. [Lung] Abstract

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Analysis Finds Select Group of Stage IV Lung Cancer Patient Population Achieves Long-Term Survival after Aggressive Treatments
A large, international analysis of patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer indicates that a patient’s overall survival (OS) rate can be related to factors including the timing of when metastases develop and lymph node involvement, and that aggressive treatment for “low-risk” patients leads to a five-year OS rate of 47.8%. [Press release from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) discussing research presented at ASTRO’s 56^th Annual Meeting, San Francisco] Press Release

Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Who Have Never Smoked or Who Have Quit Smoking Have Lower Risk of Developing Secondary Primary Lung Cancers than Current Smokers
NSCLC survivors who never smoked or who are former smokers at the time of diagnosis have a lower risk of developing secondary primary lung cancers (SPLC) compared to those who are current smokers, suggesting that increased tobacco exposure is associated with a higher risk of SPLC. [Press release from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) discussing research presented at ASTRO’s 56^th Annual Meeting, San Francisco] Press Release

Long-Term Results of RTOG 0236 Confirm Good Primary Tumor Control and Positive Five-Year Survival Rates for Lung Cancer Patients Who Received Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Patients with inoperable, early-stage lung cancer who receive stereotactic body radiation therapy have a five-year survival rate of 40%. [Press release from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) discussing research presented at ASTRO’s 56^th Annual Meeting, San Francisco] Press Release

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Texopi^®, A New Ray of Hope for Lung Cancer Immunotherapy
After convincing Phase II results observed in a United States trial, OSE Pharma’s team have received authorization to start a new multi-center Phase III trial with Texopi^® on 500 patients in Europe and in the United States. [OSE Pharma] Press Release

MEDIPOST America Clears Phase I/II IND for the U.S. Clinical Trial on Stem Cell Drug for Lung
MEDIPOST America Inc. announced the US FDA approval of Phase I/II clinical trial for PNEUMOSTEM^®. The Phase I/II trial will assess the safety and efficacy of PNEUMOSTEM^® on prematurely born infants who will be at high-risk of developing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. [MEDIPOST America Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release

Merck KGaA Discontinues Clinical Development Program of Tecemotide as a Monotherapy in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Merck KGaA announced that its biopharmaceutical division will discontinue the clinical development program of its investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy tecemotide as a monotherapy in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer. [Merck KGaA] Press Release

Response Genetics Combines Cost-Effective, Rapid Turnaround Time with Next Generation Sequencing in Novel Lung Testing Offering
Response Genetics, Inc. announced it has launched a new and innovative non-small cell lung cancer profile that merges rapid turnaround on National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline markers with next-generation sequencing. [Response Genetics, Inc.] Press Release

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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)

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Postdoctoral Position – Pulmonary Research (University of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Biology of Small Cell Lung Cancer (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Cancer (Ohio State University)

Laboratory Head – Epithelial Cancer Program (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)

Postdoctoral Research Trainee – Acute Lung Injury (University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group (Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Development of the Esophagus and Lung (University of Rochester Medical Center)

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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