Pulmonary Cell News Volume 5.40 | Oct 13 2016

TOP STORY

SOX2 Is the Determining Oncogenic Switch in Promoting Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Different Cells of Origin

Researchers describe mouse models bearing various combinations of genetic lesions predominantly found in human lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). They showed that SOX2 but not FGFR1 overexpression in tracheobronchial basal cells combined with Cdkn2ab and Pten loss results in LSCC closely resembling the human counterpart. [Cancer Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Ran GTPase Promotes Cancer Progression via Met Receptormediated Downstream Signaling

The authors showed that knockdown of Ran leads to a reduction of Met receptor expression in several breast and lung cancer cell lines. This, in turn suppressed HGF expression and the Met-mediated activation of the Akt pathway, as well as cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. [Oncotarget] Full Article | Press Release

Neutrophils Promote Alveolar Epithelial Regeneration by Enhancing Type II Pneumocyte Proliferation in a Model of Acid-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Researchers found that the loss of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) recapitulated the neutrophil response of Ly6G treated mice and was associated with defective alveolar epithelial repair, similar to neutrophil-depleted mice, and was reversed by administration of exogenous G-CSF. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Increasing the Endoplasmic Reticulum Pool of the F508del Allele of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Leads to Greater Folding Correction by Small Molecule Therapeutics.

Small molecules that correct the folding defects and enhance surface localization of the F508del mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) comprise an important therapeutic strategy for cystic fibrosis lung disease. The authors considered obstacles to obtaining robust and therapeutically relevant levels of F508del CFTR. [PloS One] Full Article

LUNG CANCER

Oligosaccharyltransferase Inhibition Induces Senescence in RTK-Driven Tumor Cells

Researchers showed that in non-small-cell lung cancer cells, NGI-1 blocks cell-surface localization and signaling of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) glycoprotein, but selectively arrests proliferation in only those cell lines that are dependent on EGFR (or fibroblast growth factor, FGFR) for survival. [Nat Chem Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Antiangiogenic Therapy Using Endostatin Increases the Number of ALDH⁺ Lung Cancer Stem Cells by Generating Intratumor Hypoxia

Scientists used xenograft tumor murine models to test if antiangiogenic agents actually increase the invasive and metastatic properties of lung cancer cells. In their experiments with murine lung cancer xenografts, they found that the antiangiogenic agent endostatin increased the population of ALDH⁺ cells, and did so by generating intratumoral hypoxia in the xenografts. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PAK1 Confers Chemoresistance and Poor Outcome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via β-Catenin-Mediated Stemness

The authors provide evidence that PAK1 confers cisplatin resistance by increasing β-catenin expression through ERK/GSK3β signaling. The increased β-catenin expression promotes sphere cell formation and expression of stemness markers and this β-catenin-induced stemness is responsible for PAK1-mediated cisplatin resistance. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Notch-1 Confers Chemoresistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma to Taxanes through AP-1/MicroRNA-451 Mediated Regulation of MDR-1

Scientists revealed whether Notch-1 was associated with Taxanes-resistant lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) and, the underlying mechanisms. They collected 39 patients of advanced LAD treated with Taxanes and found that positive Notch-1 expression is closely related to LAD lymph node metastasis, recurrence and poorer prognosis, and Notch-1 acts as an independent poor prognostic factor in LAD by multivariate analysis with Cox regression model. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

DUOX1 Silencing in Lung Cancer Promotes EMT, Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics and Invasive Properties

The authors showed that loss of dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) expression in a panel of lung cancer cell lines was strongly associated with loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Downregulation of RUVBL1 Inhibits Proliferation of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by G1/S Phase Cell Cycle Arrest via Multiple Mechanisms

Scientists demonstrated that a knockdown of RUVBL1 could effectively inhibit the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H292 cells through the induction of G1/S phase cell cycle arrest via multiple mechanisms. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Dendritic Cells in Human Lung Disease: Recent Advances

The authors review recent advances in the understanding of dendritic cells function in human disease, including asthma, COPD, anti-microbial immunity and lung cancer. [Chest] Abstract

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

Study of Ramucirumab plus Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in NSCLC

In a Phase I clinical trial, patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have shown initial response and disease control from the drug combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab. [Press release from Yale Cancer Centre discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

Ceritinib Provides Longer Progression-Free Survival Than Chemotherapy in Phase III Trial of ALK Rearranged Lung Cancer Treatment

Ceritinib provides longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy in crizotinib-pre-treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement, according to results of the Phase III ASCEND-5 study. [Press release from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Centre (European Society for Medical Oncology) discussing research presented at the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

Significant Survival Gains with Atezolizumab vs Docetaxel for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The first Phase III study of PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab in previously-treated non-small-cell lung cancer has seen significant improvements in survival compared to standard chemotherapy. [Press release from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Centre (European Society for Medical Oncology) discussing research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

Penn Cell Biologist Awarded $5.2 Million from NIH for Lung Regeneration Research

Penn Medicine researchers, along with colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Boston University, have received a $5.2 million, seven-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote lung regeneration. [University of Pennsylvania] Press Release

Case Western Reserve Researcher Receives Major Federal Grant to Test Novel Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis and Severe Asthma

Benjamin Gaston, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and researcher at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, has received a five-year, $13.3 million federal grant to develop optimized, personalized combinations of medications tailored to the unique needs of children with cystic fibrosis and severe asthma. [Case Western Reserve University] Press Release

Penn State Receives $20 Million Grant to Accelerate Medical Discoveries

Penn State will continue the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute through an award from the National Institutes of Health. The $20 million Clinical and Translational Science Award is designed to accelerate scientific discoveries found in the laboratory into public health improvements. [Pennsylvania State University] Press Release

Iowa State Nets $9.6 Million to Increase STEM Diversity, Prepare Future Faculty

Iowa State University has received nearly $10 million in funding from the National Science Foundation to improve diversity in both the professional STEM workforce and academia. [Iowa State University] Press Release

Leading Scientists Clash Over Sweeping UK Research Reforms

UK government plans to shake up the way the country’s research is funded are causing dissent among leading British scientists. At the Science Media Centre in London, some of the country’s most eminent researchers clashed over the draft laws, which involve bringing together several existing funding bodies — including the UK’s seven research councils — into one central funder called UK Research and Innovation. [Nature News] Editorial

Grant Awards: Diversity Boost

A recruitment and retention program launched by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution in Chevy Chase, Maryland, aims to reduce barriers for women and under-represented minorities who seek academic-research careers in the life sciences. [Nature Careers] Editorial

Investors Flee as Firm Scraps RNA-Interference Drug Candidate

A prominent developer of drugs that use RNA interference has abandoned one of its leading candidates amid safety concerns — sending a fresh wave of worry through a field that has long struggled to bring treatments to market. [Nature News] Editorial

The Many Shades of European Postdoc Funding

Finding the right grant or fellowship to fund a postdoc can be a challenge, and the situation is all the more complex in Europe, where academic systems, career prospects, and living costs vary widely among countries. [Science Careers] Editorial

NEW VII InterAmerican Oncology Conference
October 5-6, 2017
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Virus-Induced Lung Repair (Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research)

Associate/Full Professor – Various Projects (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow, Lung Cancer and Drug Resistance (Institute of Cancer Research)

Professor Position – Pulmonary Cell Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Lung Disease (Johns Hopkins University)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Nanoparticle Research and Drug Delivery (Moderna Therapeutics)

Chair in Medical Biology – Head of the Department of Biology (Masaryk University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Directed Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Lung and Airway Epithelial Cells (Columbia University Medical Center)

Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Inflammation and Inflammatory Lung Diseases (Temple University)

Director Clinical Research – Medical Oncology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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