Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 6.20 | May 24 2017

TOP STORY

Study Identifies RNA Molecule that Shields Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Immune System

Researchers identified a small RNA molecule that helps maintain the activity of stem cells in both healthy and cancerous breast tissue. They suggest that this “microRNA” promotes particularly deadly forms of breast cancer and that inhibiting the effects of this molecule could improve the efficacy of existing breast cancer therapies. [Press release from Princeton University discussing online prepublication in Nature Cell Biology] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Adenylate Kinase hCINAP Determines Self-Renewal of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells by Facilitating LDHA Phosphorylation

Scientists report that adenylate kinase human coilin-interacting nuclear ATPase protein (hCINAP) is overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissues. Depletion of hCINAP inhibits invasion, self-renewal, tumorigenesis and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer stem cells with a loss of mesenchymal signature. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Succession of Transiently Active Tumor-Initiating Cell Clones in Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts

Investigators showed that long-term progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in serial xenotransplantation is driven by a succession of transiently active tumor-initiating cells producing tumor cells in temporally restricted bursts. [EMBO Mol Med] Full Article

Androgen Receptor Supports an Anchorage-Independent, Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Androgen receptor (AR) levels increased in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells grown in forced suspension culture compared to those in attached conditions, and cells that expressed AR resisted detachment-induced apoptosis. Culturing TNBC cells in suspension increased the cancer stem cell-like population, an effect reversed by AR inhibition. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Exploring the Clonal Evolution of CD133/Aldehyde-Dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1)-Positive Cancer Stem-Like Cells from Primary to Recurrent High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC). A Study of the Ovarian Cancer Therapy–Innovative Models Prolong Survival (OCTIPS) Consortium

The authors investigated changes in CD133 and ALDH1 cancer stem-like cell biomarker expression in primary ovarian cancer and recurrent ovarian cancer HGSOCs. [Eur J Cancer] Abstract

Notch Inhibitor PF-03084014 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth and Metastasis via Suppression of Cancer Stemness Due to Reduced Activation of Notch1-Stat3

Researchers demonstrated that PF-03084014 inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of cancer stem cells. PF-03084014 reduced the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) sphere-derived orthotopic tumor and blocked the HCC tumor liver to lung metastasis. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Disulfiram/Copper Selectively Eradicates AML Leukemia Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo by Simultaneous Induction of ROS-JNK and Inhibition of NF-κB and Nrf2

Scientists report the in vitro and in vivo activity of disulfiram in combination with copper against CD34⁺/CD38⁺ leukemia stem-like cells sorted from KG1α and Kasumi-1 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, as well as primary CD34⁺ AML samples. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Musashi-1 Promotes a Cancer Stem Cell Lineage and Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer Cells

The authors demonstrated that the RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 enhanced the development of CD44⁺ colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) and triggered the formation of anti-apoptotic stress granules. They indicated that CD44⁺ CSC lineage-specific induction of tumor malignancies was controlled by Musashi-1. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Enhanced Cancer Stem Cell Properties of a Mitotically Quiescent Subpopulation of p75NTR-Positive Cells in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Researchers isolated and characterized quiescent cancer stem cells population in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) based on p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) expression and cell cycle status. Expression of p75NTR and Ki-67 in ESCC cell lines and surgically resected ESCC specimens was detected by performing immunocytochemical analysis. [Int J Oncol] Abstract | Download Full Article

miR-181b-5p Mediates TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stem-Like Cells Derived from Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells

Investigators compared microRNA expression in A549 cells, TGF-β1-treated A549 cells, cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) characterized by the CD133⁺/CD326⁺ phenotype, and TGF-β1-treated CSLCs. [Int J Oncol] Abstract

Harnessing the DNA Dye-Triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples

Scientists describe a valuable and broadly applicable method for cancer stem cell identification, isolation and sub-characterization mechanistically based on a functional, rather than a phenotypic parameter. [J Vis Exp] Full Article

Cancer Stem Cells: At the Forefront of Personalized Medicine and Immunotherapy

The authors highlight the potential of patient-derived cancer stem cells as an in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical model and of liquid biopsy as a diagnostic, prognostic and predictive tool. They discuss recently developed therapeutic strategies aiming at specifically targeting the cancer stem cell population, particularly focusing on the latest advances in cancer immunotherapy. [Curr Opin Pharmacol] Abstract

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

Entest BioMedical Inc. Subsidiary Zander Therapeutics Discusses Developments in Medicinal Chemistry for Veterinary Applications of Cancer and Autoimmune Therapies through Modulation of Checkpoint NR2F6

Entest BioMedical Inc. and its subsidiary, Zander Therapeutics Inc., discussed recently reported progress achieved by Regen BioPharma Inc. in developing small molecule drugs that activate and inhibit checkpoint NR2F6. [Entest BioMedical Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

FDA Approves First Cancer Treatment for Any Solid Tumor with a Specific Genetic Feature

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to a treatment for patients whose cancers have a specific genetic feature (biomarker). This is the first time the agency has approved a cancer treatment based on a common biomarker rather than the location in the body where the tumor originated. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

Academies Calculate How Much Brexit Will Cost U.K. Researchers

Some academic fields in the United Kingdom will have major funding holes to fill once the country leaves the European Union, according to new research commissioned by four U.K. academies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

What’s in Trump’s 2018 Budget Request for Science?

President Donald Trump unveiled his full 2018 budget request to Congress. The spending plan, for the fiscal year that begins 1 October, fleshes out the so-called skinny budget that the White House released this past March. That plan called for deep cuts to numerous research agencies. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Growth & Proliferation
July 9-14, 2017
Mount Snow, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (Case Western Reserve University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Biology (University of Minnesota)

Faculty Positions – Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Sun Yat-Sen University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Biology/Immunology/Leukemia Research (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Research/Oncology (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Signaling Pathways in Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Genome Institute of Singapore)

Research Officers – Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Genome Institute of Singapore)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer Biology (University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

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