Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.39 | Oct 3 2018

TOP STORY

Epigenetic Restoration of Fetal-Like IGF1 Signaling Inhibits Leukemia Stem Cell Activity

Researchers presented evidence that the difference in leukemia stem cell activity in leukemias generated from fetal liver (FL) and adult bone marrow (BM) was due to NOTCH1-driven autocrine IGF1 signaling, which was active in FL cells but restrained in BM cells by EZH2-dependent H3K27 trimethylation. They confirmed this mechanism was operative in human disease and showed that enforced IGF1 signaling effectively limited leukemia stem cell activity. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Autophagy Promotes Tumor-Like Stem Cell Niche Occupancy

Autophagy was required for niche occupancy by bam mutant stem cells. Starvation enhanced the competition of bam mutant stem cells for niche occupancy in an autophagy-dependent manner. Loss of autophagy slowed the cell cycle of bam mutant stem cells and did not influence stem cell death. [Curr Biol] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

C/EBPδ Links IL-6 and HIF-1 Signaling to Promote Breast Cancer Stem Cell-Associated Phenotypes

Investigators showed that deletion or depletion of C/EBPδ reduced expression of stem cell factors and stemnness markers, sphere formation and self-renewal, along with growth of tumors and established experimental metastases in vivo. [Oncogene] Abstract

ASPM Promotes Prostate Cancer Stemness and Progression by Augmenting Wnt−Dvl-3−β-Catenin Signaling

Scientists report that a novel Wnt co-activator ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated) maintained the prostate CSC subpopulation by augmenting Wnt-β-catenin signaling in prostate cancer (PCA). Downregulation of ASPM expression pronouncedly attenuated the proliferation, colony formation, and the invasive behavior of PCA cells, and dramatically reduced the number of ALDH⁺ CSCs and inhibited cancer stemness and tumorigenicity. [Oncogene] Abstract

Oncogenic Zinc Finger Protein ZNF322A Promotes Stem Cell-Like Properties in Lung Cancer through Transcriptional Suppression of c-Myc Expression

ZNF322A bound directly to the c-Myc promoter and recruited histone deacetylase 3 to transcriptionally suppress c-Myc expression, which in turn increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and promoted cell motility, thus maintaining the stem cell-like properties of lung cancer. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

A New Signaling Cascade Linking BMP4, BMPR1A, ΔNp73 and NANOG Impacts on Stem-Like Human Cell Properties and Patient Outcome

Downstream analysis demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) controlled the expression of the survival factor ΔNp73 through its binding to BMPR1A. This resulted in the direct induction of NANOG expression and an increase of stem-like features in leukemic cells, as shown by ALDH and functional assays. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Role of SIRT2 in Regulation of Stemness of Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Compared to SIRT2^– cells, SIRT2⁺ cells formed more tumor spheres, appeared to be more resistant towards fluorouracil-induced apoptosis, and generated bigger tumors with higher frequency after serial adoptive transplantation. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

Inhibiting Integrin β8 to Differentiate and Radiosensitize Glioblastoma-initiating Cells

Inhibiting integrin β8 diminished several main glioblastoma-initiating cell (GIC) characteristics and features, including self-renewal ability, stemness, migration potential and tumor formation capacity. The combination of radiotherapy and integrin β8 targeting radiosensitized GICs through post-mitotic cell death. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Polyethylenimine-Spherical Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles against Gli1 Reduce the Chemoresistance and Stemness of Glioblastoma Cells

Gli1 polyethylenimine-wrapped spherical nucleic acid nanoparticles impaired the self-renewal capacity of glioblastoma cells as indicated by a 30-40% reduction in the expression of stemness genes and further impaired the formation of stem-like neurospheres. [Mol Pharm] Abstract

FIBP Knockdown Attenuates Growth and Enhances Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer via Regulating GSK3β-Related Pathways

FGF1 intracellular binding protein (FIBP) knockdown inhibited proliferation, enhanced chemotherapy effects, and attenuated the stemness markers of colorectal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. GSK3β knockdown reversed the FIBP silencing-induced inhibition of proliferation and decreased stemness marker expression in HCT116-CSCs. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Subscribe to one of our other 19 science newsletters such as Neural Cell News & Hematopoiesis News.

Parallels between Artificial Reprogramming and the Biogenesis of Cancer Stem Cells: Involvement of lncRNAs

The author examines long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) function in reprogrammed pluripotent cells and cancer stem cells. Because cancer stem cells arise from normal cells, their biogenesis can be viewed as a reprogramming process that occurs in vivo, and parallels between artificial reprogramming and cancer stem cell biogenesis are discussed. [Semin Cancer Biol] Full Article

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

Nobel Prize for Medicine Goes to Cancer Immune Therapy Pioneers

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation. [The Nobel Foundation] Press Release

Cellectar Announces Overall Survival Exceeding 19 Months in Phase Ib Trial with CLR 131 in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Cellectar Biosciences updated interim overall survival data from the company’s ongoing Phase Ib clinical trial evaluating CLR 131 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. [Cellectar Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

At NEJM, a Change at the Top Offers a Chance to Reshape the World’s Oldest Medical Journal

The retirement of Dr. Jeffrey Drazen as editor of the New England Journal of Medicine has created an opportunity to bring a new perspective to what is arguably the world’s most prestigious medical journal. [STAT News] Editorial

U.K. Scientists ‘Are Going to Be All Right,’ after Brexit, Science Minister Promises

In January, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Sam Gyimah as science and universities minister as a part of a broader cabinet reshuffle. During his visit, Gyimah spoke with Science about the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, a topic that is causing a great deal of anxiety among U.K. scientists. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Airlines Fight Effort to Force Them to Carry Lab Animals

A last-ditch attempt by biomedical science advocates to force airlines to transport nonhuman primates and other research animals appears to be facing stiff headwinds. Last week, four international carriers strongly urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to summarily reject a plea from a leading research advocacy organization to order the airlines to resume flying animals to research facilities around the world. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ESH 5^th International Conference on Acute Myeloid Leukemia ‘Molecular and Translational’: Advances in Biology and Treatment
October 24-26, 2019
Estoril, Portugal

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

NEW Research Assistant – Stem Cell Biology in Blood System Aging and Blood Cancer (The Jackson Laboratory)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Hematopoiesis and Leukemia (The Jackson Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions – Translational Leukemia (Lund University)

Postdoctoral and Research Associate Positions – Chromatin Remodeling Proteins in Normal Stem Cell & Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Faculty Positions – Cancer Biology (The Wilmot Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cell Biology (McGill University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Leukemic Stem Cell Chemical Systems Medicine (University of Copenhagen)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer and Glioma Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Faculty Position – Cancer Biology (Emory University Hospital)

Research Scientist – Leukemia (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in Cancer Stem Cell News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.