Cancer Stem Cell News 2.45 November 13, 2013
Ostrow Study Identifies Mechanism that Makes Ordinary Stem Cells Create Tumors
A new study illustrates how changes in cell signaling can cause ordinary stem cells in the jaw to start forming benign but potentially harmful tumors. [Press release from University of Southern California discussing online prepublication in Cell Stem Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract
PUBLICATIONS ( Ranked by impact factor of the journal)
The Activation of the WNT Signaling Pathway Is a Hallmark in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Tumorigenesis
The authors aimed to identify an additional pathway in neurofibromatosis type 1-tumorigenesis. They focused their work on Wnt signaling that is highly implicated in cancer, mainly in regulating the proliferation of cancer stem cells. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract
Triptolide Reverses Hypoxia-Induced EMT and Stem-Like Features in Pancreatic Cancer by NF-κB Downregulation
The plant-derived agent triptolide also known as "thunder god vine" has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and cancer and is now in Phase II trials. Scientists mimicked the situation in patient tumors by induction of hypoxia in experimental models of pancreatic cancer stem cells and evaluated the therapeutic effect of triptolide. [Int J Cancer] Abstract
Twist2 Promotes Self-Renewal of Liver Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Regulating CD24
The authors demonstrated that Twist2 is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. They showed that ectopic expression of Twist2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes, augments cell migration and invasion and colony-forming abilities in human HCC cells in vitro, and promotes tumor growth in vivo. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract
ALDH1A1 Defines Invasive Cancer Stem-Like Cells and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Investigators isolated cancer stem-like cells from an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line EC109 based on aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1), and found that ALDH1A1high cells possessed the capacities of self-renewal, differentiation and tumor initiation, indications of stem cell properties. [Mod Pathog] Abstract
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer: Targeting Ovarian Cancer Cells with the B7-H3-Specific mAb 376.96
Investigators evaluated the anti-tumor activity of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 376.96, which recognizes a B7-H3 epitope expressed on ovarian carcinoma cells, in combination with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sunitinib and chemotherapy on chemosensitive and chemoresistant cells and cancer initiating cells. [Gynecol Oncol] Abstract
A High-Content Small Molecule Screen Identifies Sensitivity of Glioblastoma Stem Cells to Inhibition of Polo-Like Kinase 1
Researchers compared responses of human glioblastoma-derived neural stem cells and genetically normal neural stem cells to a panel of 160 small molecule kinase inhibitors. [PLoS One] Full Article
Anticancer Bioactive Peptide-3 Inhibits Human Gastric Cancer Growth by Suppressing Gastric Cancer Stem Cells
The effective components of anticancer bioactive peptide-3, a novel antitumor agent isolated from goat liver, were analyzed. The CD44+ fraction of the human gastric cancer cell line was isolated, and the cells within this fraction that could form spheroid colonies were identified as gastric cancer stem cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract
Grp78 as a Therapeutic Target for Refractory Head-Neck Cancer with CD24–CD44+ Stemness Phenotype
Grp78 is known to have important roles in cytoprotection and tumorigenesis in several cancers. Researchers therefore examined whether Grp78 can serve as a therapeutic target for refractory stemness phenotype of head and neck cancer. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract
Alteration of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Functions by Tumor-Stromal Cell Interaction
The formation of the cancer stem cell-niche by stromal cells facilitates postoperative recurrence, re-growth of therapy-resistant tumors and distant metastasis. Conventional therapies targeting cancer cells alone have failed to conquer pancreatic cancer, but targeting the stromal cells and immune cells in animal experiments has provided evidence of improved therapeutic responses. A combination of novel strategies altering stromal cell functions could contribute to improving the pancreatic cancer prognosis. [Front Physiol]
Advanced Melanoma Patients' Long-Term Survival Improved with California Stem Cell Inc.'s Patient Specific Cell Therapy
Advanced melanoma patients who received an experimental patient-specific tumor stem cell therapy as part of several clinical trials experienced superior survival rates compared to patients who did not receive the therapy. [Press release from California Stem Cell Inc. discussing research presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting, National Harbor] Press Release
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Canadian and US Leaders in Cancer Research Announce a Big Data Challenge to Develop Robust Methodologies for Predicting Cancer Mutations
Cancer research leaders from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and the University of California, Santa Cruz, in collaboration with Sage Bionetworks and IBM's DREAM, announced the opening of the ICGC-TCGA-DREAM Somatic Mutation Calling Challenge. [Ontario Institute for Cancer Research] Press Release
CureVac Collaborates with the Cancer Research Institute and Ludwig Cancer Research to Enable Clinical Testing of Novel Immunotherapy Treatment Options for Cancer
The non-profit Cancer Research Institute and Ludwig Cancer Research, and CureVac, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that has pioneered the development of a new class of therapies and vaccines based on messenger RNA, announced that they will collaborate to enable clinical testing of novel cancer immunotherapy treatment options. [CureVac] Press Release
NEW Beatson International Cancer Conference
NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Stem Cell Biology (UC – College of Medicine)
Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)
Research Fellowship – Cancer Biology (Harvard Medical School)
Assistant Professor – Fundamental Mechanisms in Cancer Biology (Cornell University)
Faculty Position – Stem Cell Biology (University of Notre Dame)
Postdoctoral Position – Translational Research Studying Glioblastoma Biology (UC San Francisco)
Postdoctoral Position – RNA & Stem Cell Biology (Cancer Research Centre of Lyon)
Scientist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)
Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)
Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)
Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)