Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.00 | Jan 3 2018

TOP STORY

Senescence-Associated Reprogramming Promotes Cancer Stemness

The authors investigated whether chemotherapy-induced senescence could change stem-cell-related properties of malignant cells. Gene expression and functional analyses comparing senescent and non-senescent B-cell lymphomas from Eμ-Myc transgenic mice revealed substantial upregulation of an adult tissue stem-cell signature, activated Wnt signaling, and distinct stem-cell markers in senescence. [Nature] Abstract | Editorial

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

JAK/STAT3-Regulated Fatty Acid β-Oxidation Is Critical for Breast Cancer Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Chemoresistance

Scientists demonstrated that JAK/STAT3 regulates lipid metabolism, which promotes breast CSCs (BCSCs) and cancer chemoresistance. Inhibiting JAK/STAT3 blocked BCSC self-renewal and expression of diverse lipid metabolic genes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B, which encodes the critical enzyme for fatty acid β-oxidation. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Survival of Cancer Stem-Like Cells under Metabolic Stress via CaMK2α-Mediated Upregulation of Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase Expression

Investigators demonstrated the potential mechanisms by which CSCs avoid Ca²⁺-dependent apoptosis during glucose deprivation. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

LSD1 Stimulates Cancer-Associated Fibrobasts to Drive Notch3-Dependent Self-Renewal of Liver Cancer Stem-Like Cells

Researchers found that the chromatin modification factor LSD1 is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) CSC where it decreases during differentiation. LSD1 was responsible for maintaining CSC self-renewal and tumorigenicity in HCC and its overexpression was sufficient to drive self-renewal of non-CSC. [Cancer Res] Abstract

PRMT5 Is a Critical Regulator of Breast Cancer Stem Cell Function via Histone Methylation and FOXP1 Expression

Investigators identified arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 as a key in vitro and in vivo regulator of breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) proliferation and self-renewal and established FOXP1, a winged helix/forkhead transcription factor, as a critical effector of PRMT5-induced BCSC function. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

GNA13 Expression Promotes Drug Resistance and Tumor-Initiating Phenotypes in Squamous Cell Cancers

Scientists demonstrated that GNA13 is upregulated in many solid tumors and impacts survival and metastases in patients. GNA13 levels modulated drug resistance and tumor-initiating-like phenotypes in patient-derived head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. [Oncogene] Full Article

HN1L Promotes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Stem Cells through LEPR-STAT3 Pathway

HN1L silencing reduced the population of breast cancer stem cells, inhibited tumor initiation, resensitized chemoresistant tumors to docetaxel, and hindered cancer progression in multiple triple-negative breast cancer cell line-derived xenografts. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Anticancer Activity of Osmium(VI) Nitrido Complexes in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Initiating Cells and In Vivo Mouse Models

The authors investigated the efficacy of Os(VI) on glioblastoma (GBM) initiating cells in vitro and in vivo. Conventional MTT and 3D cytotoxicity assays revealed that patient-derived GBM models were sensitive to cisplatin, TMZ, and two Os(IV) derivatives. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

LGR4 Modulates Breast Cancer Initiation, Metastasis, and Cancer Stem Cells

Scientists identified LGR4 as a master controller of Wnt/β-catenin signaling–mediated breast cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis, and CSC maintenance. [FASEB J] Abstract

Dysregulation of Iron Metabolism in Cholangiocarcinoma Stem-Like Cells

Investigators found different expression of iron proteins indicating increased iron content, oxidative stress and higher expression of CSC markers in cholangiocarcinoma 3D spheres compared to tumor cells growing as monolayers. [Sci Rep] Full Article

High Expression of MKP1/DUSP1 Counteracts Glioma Stem Cell Activity and Mediates HDAC Inhibitor Response

Researchers showed that glioma stem cells (GSCs) express low levels of MKP1, a dual-specificity phosphatase, which acts as a negative inhibitor of JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK, while induction of high levels of MKP1 expression are associated with differentiation of GSC. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

Revealing the Glioma Cancer Stem Cell Interactome, One Niche at a Time

Scientists highlight the newly revealed biology of CD109 and offer a synthesis of the published information on glioma CSCs in a variety of anatomical growth zones. They also discuss the landscape of interacting cells within GBM tumors and the few reported examples of pro-tumorigenic, interactive tumor cell partnerships, as well as a variety of tumor cell/non-transformed neural cell interactions. [J Pathol] Abstract

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

Trovagene Announces Activation of Second Clinical Trial Site in Phase Ib/II Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Trial for PCM-075

Trovagene, Inc. announced the activation of the second clinical trial site for its Phase Ib/II multicenter trial of PCM-075 in patients with AML, with Virginia Piper Cancer Institute and Principal Investigator, Dr. Michaela Tsai. [Trovagene, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

DelMar Pharmaceuticals Announces Fast Track Designation for VAL-083 in Recurrent Glioblastoma

DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for the company’s lead product candidate, VAL-083, in recurrent glioblastoma. [DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

New NCI Director Expects Big Data to Revolutionize Cancer Research, Care

Cancer researchers were nervous early this year about who President Donald Trump would choose to replace Harold Varmus as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). But their fears of an unconventional candidate proved unfounded when he tapped Norman “Ned” Sharpless. Sharpless, 51, who was then director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Nobel Laureate Will Step Down from Leading Embattled Salk Institute

Elizabeth Blackburn, the Nobel Prize–winning molecular biologist who took over just two years ago as president of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, announced her intent to retire next summer. The unexpected news comes as Salk faces gender discrimination lawsuits from three veteran female scientists and Blackburn herself has been challenged for not moving quickly enough to change what one plaintiff’s suit called an “old boys club” at the renowned research institute. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chile Election Reignites Tussle over Science Policy

Chile’s new President-elect Sebastián Piñera is poised to reshape science policy in the country. His plans to forge closer ties among science, education and industry have sparked enthusiasm from scientists who hope the plan will bolster support for their work — but also concern about possible changes in research priorities. [Nature News] Editorial

Facebook Billionaire Pours Funds into High-Risk Research

After his plan to test a cancer vaccine for middle-aged pet dogs was rejected by the US National Institutes of Health, inventor and biochemist Stephen Johnston sought funding outside the mainstream system. The Open Philanthropy Project, a grant-giving organization that is largely funded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and his wife Cari Tuna, announced that Johnston will receive US$6.4 million to test the vaccine he developed. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 11^th Dutch Stem Cell Meeting
May 4, 2018
Utrecht, Netherlands

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology (University of Florida Health Cancer Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Scholarship – Translational Cancer Stem Cell Biology (Lund University)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Gene Regulation and/or Cancer Biology (University of North Carolina)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Control of Metastasis/Cancer Stem Cell Regulation (University of Miami)

PhD Student – Stem Cells in Tumor Initiation (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (Stanford University)

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

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

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

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