Cancer Stem Cell News Volume 7.15 | Apr 18 2018

TOP STORY

Dual Inhibition of MDMX and MDM2 as a Therapeutic Strategy in Leukemia

Dual mouse double minute 4 homolog (MDMX)/mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) inhibition by ALRN-6924 inhibited cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cell lines and primary acute myeloid leukemia patient cells, including leukemic stem cell-enriched populations, and disrupted functional clonogenic and serial replating capacity. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Melatonin Disturbs SUMOylation Mediated Crosstalk between C‐Myc and Nestin via MT1 Activation and Promotes the Sensitivity of Paclitaxel in Brain Cancer Stem Cells

Researchers found that melatonin inhibits stemness via suppression of c‐Myc, Nestin, and histone methylation via MT1 activation and promotes anticancer effect of paclitaxcel in brain cancer stem cells. [J Pineal Res] Abstract

Tumor-Derived Exosomal Lnc-Sox2ot Promotes EMT and Stemness by Acting as a ceRNA in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

The authors identified a lncRNA-Sox2ot from exosomes of highly invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, and analyzed the expression of Sox2ot in the plasma samples and found that the plasma exosomal Sox2ot expression was high and correlated with TNM stage and overall survival rate of PDAC patients. Sox2ot promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell like properties by regulating Sox2 expression. [Oncogene] Abstract

Capillary Morphogenesis Gene 2 Maintains Gastric Cancer Stem-Like Cell Phenotype by Activating a Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Investigators found that capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) was highly expressed in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and the expression levels were associated with the invasion depth and lymph node metastasis of GC, and inversely correlated with the survival of GC patients. [Oncogene] Full Article

PGE₂/EP₄ Antagonism Enhances Tumor Chemosensitivity by Inducing Extracellular Vesicle‐Mediated Clearance of Cancer Stem Cells

Because of its ability to induce a CSC‐to‐non‐CSC transition, EP₄ antagonist treatment in vivo reduced the numbers of CSCs within tumors and increased tumor chemosensitivity. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

HPV16 Increases the Number of Migratory Cancer Stem Cells and Modulates Their miRNA Expression Profile in Oropharyngeal Cancer

The authors examined whether expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)‐E6E7 targets the number of migratory and stationary CSCs. They wanted to elucidate if aberrantly expressed miRNAs in migratory CSCs may be responsible for progression of oropharyngeal squamous‐cell‐carcinomas and whether they may serve as potential novel biomarkers for increased potential of metastasis. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Jade Family PHD Finger 3 (JADE3) Increases Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties and Tumorigenicity in Colon Cancer

Scientists found that JADE3 was markedly upregulated in colon cancer tissues and significantly correlated with cancer progression, and predicted shorter patient survival. Further, JADE3 was expressed much higher in colon cancer cell lines that are enriched with a stem-like signature. Overexpression of JADE3 increased, while silencing JADE3 reduced cancer stem cell-like traits in colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

The Mitochondrial Citrate Carrier, SLC25A1, Drives Stemness and Therapy Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Investigators demonstrated that SLC25A1 plays a key role in maintaining the mitochondrial pool of citrate and redox balance in CSCs, whereas its inhibition leads to reactive oxygen species build-up thereby inhibiting the self-renewal capability of CSCs. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

A Novel Oncolytic Herpes Capable of Cell‐Specific Transcriptional Targeting of CD133^± Cancer Cells Induces Significant Tumor Regression

Scientists developed the first mutated version of herpes simplex virus‐1 (HSV‐1) that is transcriptionally targeted against CD133⁺ cells. The virus developed in this work, Signal‐Smart 2, showed specificity against CD133⁺ cells in three different models (hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and melanoma) resulting in a loss of viability and invasiveness of cancer cells. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Role of the Interplay Between the Internal and External Conditions in Invasive Behavior of Tumors

The authors proposed a novel model beyond the standard stochastic models of tumor development, in order to explore the effect of the density of the CSCs and oxygen on the tumor’s invasive behavior. [Sci Rep] Full Article

miR‐200c, a Tumor Suppressor That Modulate the Expression of Cancer Stem Cells Markers and Epithelial‐Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer

Investigators evaluated the inhibitory role of miR‐200c on EMT, CSCs markers and β‐catenin in HCT‐116 and SW48 cell lines. The expression of miR‐200c, EMT‐related genes, CSCs markers, and β‐catenin were quantified by qRT‐PCR. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Natural Killer Cells Target and Differentiate Cancer Stem-Like Cells/Undifferentiated Tumors: Strategies to Optimize Their Growth and Expansion for Effective Cancer Immunotherapy

Natural killer (NK) cells are known to select and differentiate cancer stem-like cells/undifferentiated tumors via lysis, and secreted/membrane bound IFN-γ and TNF-α respectively, resulting in the control of tumor growth. Several in vivo mouse models including humanized-BLT mice have been used to study the biology and significance of NK cells in selection/differentiation of stem-like tumors within the context of a reconstituted human immune system. [Curr Opin Immunol] Abstract

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

First FDA-Approved Car T Therapy for Some Types of ALL to Be Offered at City of Hope

City of Hope announced that it is a certified treatment center to administer tisagenlecleucel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy – the first CAR T cell therapy approved by the FDA – to patients up to 25 years of age with B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse. [City of Hope] Press Release

CANbridge Receives Approval to Commence CAN008 Phase II/III Trial in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) in China

CANbridge Life Sciences announced that the China Food and Drug Administration has approved the Investigational New Drug application for a Phase II/III clinical study of lead candidate, CAN008. It’s a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate efficacy and safety profiles of weekly CAN008 + re-radiation therapy in patients with GBM. [CANbridge Life Sciences] Press Release

African Scientists Call for More Control of Their Continent’s Genomic Data

Africa-based researchers issued guidelines for the ethical handling of samples for genomic studies. The voluntary rules are an effort to combat ‘helicopter’ research, in which foreign scientists take samples and data from communities and then return to their home institutions. [Nature News] Editorial

A Final Dash across the United States: Updates from the 2018 March for Science

The March for Science celebrated its anniversary. And although the turnout around the world was significantly smaller than last year, supporters haven’t lost any of their energy. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Spain’s Biggest-Ever Science Petition Decries ‘Abandonment’ of Research

Leading Spanish scientific organizations delivered a petition signed by more than 277,000 people to the national parliament in Madrid, calling on the government to stop the “progressive abandonment of science in Spain” caused by budget cuts. The petition is the largest ever on a science-policy subject in Spain. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW LabRoots: 6^th Annual Cancer Research & Oncology Virtual Event
October 10-11, 2018
Online

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Stem Cells (University of New South Wales)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer Research (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Professor – Cancer Stem Cell Research (Cardiff University)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Research Scientist – Gynecologic Cancers (The UCLA G.O. Discovery Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Phylogenetics (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cells and Breast Cancer (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Leukemia and Cancer Biology (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cell and Molecular Biology (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

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

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