Targeting Treatment Resistant Breast Cancer Stem Cells with FKBPL and Its Peptide Derivative, AD-01, via the CD44 Pathway FKBPL and its peptide derivative, AD-01, have already demonstrated tumor growth inhibition and CD44 dependent anti-angiogenic activity. Investigators explored the ability of AD-01 to target CD44 positive breast cancer stem cells. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract miR-27a Regulates Endothelial Differentiation of Breast Cancer Stem Like Cells Researchers showed that vascular endothelial growth factor induced the expression of endothelial markers in breast cancer stem like cells. [Oncogene] Abstract Downregulation of miR-140 Promotes Cancer Stem Cell Formation in Basal-Like Early Stage Breast Cancer Investigators found that microRNA (miR)-140 has a critical role in regulating stem cell signaling in normal breast epithelium and in ductal carcinoma in situ. [Oncogene] Abstract MicroRNA-128 Coordinately Targets Polycomb Repressor Complexes in Glioma Stem Cells Researchers used a set of glioblastoma patient samples, glioma stem cells, and neural stem cells from a mouse model of glioblastoma. They characterized gene/protein expression and cellular phenotypes by quantitative PCR/Western blotting and clonogenic, cell-cycle, and DNA damage assays. They performed overexpression/knockdown studies by lentiviral infection and microRNA/small interfering RNA oligonucleotide transfection. [Neuro Oncol] Abstract Brain Tumor Stem Cell Multipotency Correlates with Nanog Expression and Extent of Passaging in Human Glioblastoma Xenografts The authors present a study detailing changes in brain tumor stem cell multipotency, invasive migration, and proliferation after serial passaging of human glioblastoma multiforme xenografts. [Oncotarget] Full Article Non-Hematopoietic Cells Represent a More Rational Target of In Vivo Hedgehog Signaling Affecting Normal or Acute Myeloid Leukemic Progenitors Recent work has shown that leukemic stem cell self-renewal in chronic myeloid leukemia is dependent on cell-intrinsic hedgehog (Hh) signaling, and early clinical trials suggest targeting this pathway is also therapeutic in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Researchers aimed to better understand Hh signaling in normal hematopoiesis and AML by molecularly and functionally analyzing over 200 primary human AML patient samples compared to non-leukemic controls. [Exp Hematol] Abstract Establishment of a Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Line P6C with Stem Cell Properties and Resistance to Chemotherapeutic Drugs Scientists established a CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cell line with particular emphasis on its self-renewal capacity, enhanced tumor initiation and drug resistance. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Full Article Assessment of Genetic Markers and Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells in Activation of Dendritic Cells The authors aimed to determine the role of tailored cellular therapy for glioblastoma (GBM) with a poor prognosis and to compare the activity of dendritic cells that have encountered GBM cells. Detecting the correlations between methylation and expression of MGMT and PTEN genes and GBM cancer stem cells markers after co-cultures with a mononuclear cell cocktail were also aims for this study. [Hum Cell] Abstract |