Volume 2.38 | Sep 25 - Cancer Stem Cell News

Cancer Stem Cell News 2.38 September 25, 2013

TOP STORY

c-Myc and Her2 Cooperate to Drive a Stem-Like Phenotype with Poor Prognosis in Breast Cancer
Using a novel chimeric mammary transgenic approach and in vitro models, scientists demonstrated markedly increased self-renewal and tumor-propagating capability of cells transformed with Her2 and c-Myc. [Oncogene] Abstract

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PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl Regulates Cell-Cell Adhesion and Stemness in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Axl expression correlates with poor prognosis and induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hence the authors hypothesized that Axl is involved in the disruption of cell-cell adhesion to allow invasion and chemotherapy resistance of the cancer stem cell population. [Oncogene] Abstract

Stem Cell-Like ALDH^bright Cellular States in EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Novel Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to Erlotinib Targetable with the Natural Polyphenol Silibinin
The enrichment of cancer stem cell-like cellular states has not previously been considered to be a causative mechanism in the generalized progression of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) after an initial response to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib. To explore this possibility, investigators utilized a pre-clinical model of acquired erlotinib resistance established by growing NSCLC cells containing a TKI-sensitizing EGFR exon 19 deletion in the continuous presence of high doses of erlotinib. [Cell Cycle]
Full Article

Drug Screening Identifies Niclosamide as an Inhibitor of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells
The authors aimed to discover novel compounds that target breast cancer stem-like cells. They used a dye-exclusion method to isolate side population (SP) cancer cells and, subsequently, subjected these SP cells to a sphere formation assay to generate SP spheres from breast cancer cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article

YB-1 Dependent Oncolytic Adenovirus Efficiently Inhibits Tumor Growth of Glioma Cancer Stem Like Cells
Researchers determined the expression of YB-1 in glioblastoma specimen in vivo and in brain cancer stem cell (CSC) lines. In addition, the capacity of Ad-Delo3-RGD, an YB-1 dependent oncolytic adenovirus, to eradicate CSCs was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. [J Transl Med] Abstract | Full Article

Prognostic Value of Musashi-1 in Gliomas
Scientists investigated the prognostic value of the RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 in adult patients with primary gliomas. Musashi-1 has been suggested to be a cancer stem cell-related marker in gliomas, and high levels of Musashi-1 have been associated with high tumor grades and hence poor prognosis. [J Neurooncol] Abstract

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Increases During the Progression of In Situ to Invasive Basal-Like Breast Cancer
Investigators performed immunohistochemical analyses of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (expression of vimentin, smooth muscle actin, osteonectin, and N-cadherin; loss of E-cadherin; alteration of β-catenin), breast cancer stem cell markers (CD44+/CD24-, ALDH1), and CD146, an EMT inducer, in invasive carcinomas and ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. [Hum Pathol] Abstract

Epigenetic Silencing of MicroRNA-203 Is Required for EMT and Cancer Stem Cell Properties
Scientists profiled changes in microRNA expression during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in conjunction with changes in DNA methylation at microRNA promoters to discover essential mediators of EMT-imparted stemness properties. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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REVIEWS

Tumor Heterogeneity and Cancer Cell Plasticity
Studies using lineage tracing and deep sequencing could have implications for the cancer stem-cell model and may help to determine the extent to which it accounts for therapy resistance and disease progression. [Nature] Full Article

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

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Verastem Initiates Trial of Defactinib in Japan
Verastem, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase I trial of defactinib, a potent inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors. FAK is a pathway critical for the growth and survival of cancer stem cells and the study marks the launch of Verastem’s development efforts in Japan. [Verastem, Inc.] Press Release

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase Ib/II Clinical Trial of Demcizumab (Anti-DLL4) in Combination with Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has started a Phase Ib/II clinical trial of its anti-cancer stem cell product candidate, demcizumab (OMP-21M18) in ovarian cancer. [The Wall Street Journal]
Press Release

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POLICY NEWS

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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EVENTS

NEW San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
December 10-14, 2013
San Antonio, United States

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer Stem Cell Biology (UC College of Medicine)

Research Associate – Leukemia & Stem Cell Biology (King’s College London)

Tenure Track Faculty Positions – Cancer Biology (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Assistant Professor – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (METU Department of Biology)

Principal Scientist – Cancer Stem Cells (Pharma Professionals Europe Ltd)

Postdoctoral Appointee – Cell Cycle Regulation in Tumor Stem Cells (Rutgers University, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Culture Media & Matrices (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst – Media (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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