Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 4.18 | May 13 2015

Chronic Chemotherapeutic Stress Promotes Evolution of Stemness and WNT/Beta-Catenin Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Cells: Implications for Clinical Use of WNT-Signaling Inhibitors
Researchers carried out a comprehensive molecular and functional analysis of six independently selected colorectal cancer cell lines with acquired resistance to three different chemotherapeutic agents derived from two distinct parental cell lines. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Critical Roles of Tumor-Initiating Cells and the Lymph Node Stromal Microenvironment in Human Colorectal Cancer Extranodal Metastasis Using a Unique Humanized Orthotopic Mouse Model
The authors investigated the interactions between CD133⁺CXCR4⁺ colorectal cancer tumor-initiating cells and the lymph node stromal microenvironment in human colorectal cancer extranodal metastasis. [FASEB J] Abstract

Identification of Thioridazine, an Antipsychotic Drug, as an Antiglioblastoma and Anticancer Stem Cell Agent Using Public Gene Expression Data
Investigators hypothesized that if treatment with a drug could reverse, at least in part, the gene expression signature of glioblastoma (GBM) and GBM stem cells, this drug may have the potential to inhibit pathways essential in the formation of GBM and thereby treat GBM. Therefore, they systematically evaluated the in vitro antitumor effects of 79 drugs in GBM cell lines. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Let-7a Regulates Mammosphere Formation Capacity through Ras/NF-κB and Ras/MAPK/ERK Pathway in Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers illustrated that overexpression of let-7a reduced cell proliferation and mammosphere formation ability of breast cancer stem cells in a KRas-dependent manner through different pathways in vitro and in vivo. They provided the evidence that let-7a was decreased, and reversely the expression of KRas was increased with moderate expression in early stages and high expression in advanced stages in breast cancer specimens. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Molecular Heterogeneity in a Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Xenoline Is Regulated by Different Cancer Stem Cell Populations
Scientists characterized glioblastoma tumors produced by subcutaneous and intracranial injection of adherent cultures of glioblastoma stem-like cell (GSC) and spheroid cultures of GSCs (Sp-GSCs) isolated from a patient-derived xenoline. Although they formed tumors with identical histological features, gene expression analysis revealed that xenografts of Sp-GSCs had a classical molecular subtype similar to that of bulk tumor cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

ATOH1 Can Regulate the Tumorigenicity of Gastric Cancer Cells by Inducing the Differentiation of Cancer Stem Cells
Researchers showed that ATOH1 can induce the differentiation of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). The lentivirus-induced overexpression of ATOH1 in GCSCs and in gastric cancer cell lines significantly induced differentiation, reduced proliferation and sphere formation, and reduced in vivo tumor formation in the subcutaneous injection and liver metastasis xenograft models. [PLoS One] Full Article

GnRH Participates in the Self-Renewal of A549-Derived Lung Cancer Stem-Like Cells through Upregulation of the JNK Signaling Pathway
Investigators isolated and identified a subpopulation of lung cancer stem-like cells from non-small cell lung carcinoma A549 cells with features including self-renewal capacity in vitro, elevated tumorigenic activity in vivo, and high expression of stemness markers CD44, CD133, aldehyde dehydrogenase and Sox2, using a serum-free suspension sphere-forming culture method. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Alternative Treatments For Melanoma: Targeting BCL-2 Family Members to De-Bulk and Kill Cancer Stem Cells
The authors discuss the recent advancements in targeting BCL-2 family members for cancer treatments, and how this approach can be applied as an alternative option to combat melanoma, and overcome melanoma relapse or resistance in current treatment regimens. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

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Redx Reaches Pre-Clinical Proof of Concept with Oncology Lead
Redx Pharma has reached pre-clinical proof of concept stage with an advanced lead which has the potential to tackle some of the most hard-to-treat cancers. The novel, potent small molecule Porcupine inhibitor targets the Wnt pathway, an embryonic signaling pathway that is implicated in the maintenance of cancer stem cells in multiple cancer types. [Redx Pharma Plc] Press Release

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PhD Position – Neurology & Cancer Stem Cells (Cardiff University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Epigenetics, Stem Cells and Cancer (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (INSERM)

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Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer & Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)

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