Two Open Access reviews

1) Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Cancer by Qi Bao and 6 co-authors, including Karl-Walter Jauch and Christiane J Bruns, Cancers 2010(Aug 19); 2(3): 1629-41. [Full text PDF][Scribd entry][Part of the Special Issue Pancreatic Cancer]. Abstract:

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignant solid tumor well-known by early metastasis, local invasion, resistance to standard chemo- and radiotherapy and poor prognosis. Increasing evidence indicates that pancreatic cancer is initiated and propagated by cancer stem cells (CSCs). Here we review the current research results regarding CSCs in pancreatic cancer and discuss the different markers identifying pancreatic CSCs. This review will focus on metastasis, microRNA regulation and anti-CSC therapy in pancreatic cancer.

2) The Emerging Role of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/ Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Network in Cancer Stem Cell Biology by Alberto M Martelli and 4 co-authors, including James A McCubrey, Cancers 2010(Aug 18); 2(3): 1576-96. [Part of the Special Issue Cancer Stem Cells].

Comment: Review #2 is the first paper that has been published in the special issue on Cancer Stem Cells. As of August 20, 17 more contributions to this special issue are planned. Review #1, although about CSCs, is a contribution to a separate special issue on Pancreatic Cancer.

Partnership Pays Off

Northern Exposure by Emmet Pierce, San Diego Business Journal, August 16, 2010. Excerpt:

An example of San Diegans collaborating with Canadians is the work that has taken place at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center in cooperation with research at the University of Toronto. The partnership has enabled San Diego researchers to acquire a $20 million grant to develop drugs to be used against leukemia stem cells, Barr says.Dr. Catriona Jamieson, director of the stem cell research program at the Moores center, said scientists from Toronto and San Diego share "a deep and abiding interest in cancer stem cell biology." The Canadian consulate in San Diego was instrumental in helping to create a relationship in which both institutions would benefit, sharing information and applying for funds to support their research.

"The idea was to establish a Canada-California cancer stem cell initiative and obtain connections with Canadian funding agencies, particularly Genome Canada and the Ministry of Health," she said.

Jamieson added, "The most important thing is it allows people with disparate abilities and backgrounds to work together on the same problem."

Barr said the University of Toronto also was able to secure a $20 million research grant because of the collaboration, "so the team is greater than the sum of its parts."

Oxygen, hypoxia and the stem cell niche

Oxygen in Stem Cell Biology: A Critical Component of the Stem Cell Niche by Ahmed Mohyeldin, Tomás Garzón-Muvdi and Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, Cell Stem Cell 2010(Aug 6); 7(2): 150-61. Review. [PubMed citation][FriendFeed entry]. Via Twitter @CellStemCell: Access [to the full text] is free in August worldwide so readers can try out new enhanced online format.

Abstract:

The defining hallmark of stem cells is their ability to self-renew and maintain multipotency. This capacity depends on the balance of complex signals in their microenvironment. Low oxygen tensions (hypoxia) maintain undifferentiated states of embryonic, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and neural stem cell phenotypes and also influence proliferation and cell-fate commitment. Recent evidence has identified a broader spectrum of stem cells influenced by hypoxia that includes cancer stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. These findings have important implications on our understanding of development, disease, and tissue-engineering practices and furthermore elucidate an added dimension of stem cell control within the niche.

Prom1-expressing cells not essential for gliomagenesis

Glioblastoma Formation from Cell Population Depleted of Prominin1-Expressing Cells, Elites TV, August 29, 2009. [Twitter entry].

This news item provides the abstract of an article (with the same title) by Kenji Nishide, Yuka Nakatani, Hiroshi Kiyonari and Toru Kondo, published in PLoS One 2009(Aug 31); 4(8): e6869. [PubMed Citation][Full text is publicly accessible (via Libre OA)]. Last sentence of the abstract:

Thus, our studies demonstrate that Prom1-expressing cells are dispensable for gliomagenesis in this mouse model.

Human bladder tumor-initiating cells

Scientists discover bladder cancer stem cell by Krista Conger, News Release, Stanford University, August 3, 2009. First paragraph:

Researchers at Stanford's School of Medicine have identified the first human bladder cancer stem cell and revealed how it works to escape the body's natural defenses.

See also: Stanford scientists discover bladder cancer stem cell, EuekAlert, August 3, 2009. And: Scientists Discover Bladder Cancer Stem Cell, ScienceDaily, August 4, 2009. [FriendFeed entry].

The news releases are based on this Open Access publication: Identification, molecular characterization, clinical prognosis, and therapeutic targeting of human bladder tumor-initiating cells by Keith Syson Chan and 11 co-authors, including Irving L Weissman, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2009(Aug 4) [Epub ahead of print]. [Abstract][Early version of OA full text].

A post about another recent publication from Stanford: Leukemia SC cloak themselves to avoid detection (July 28, 2009).

Partnership to develop new colon cancer drugs

Ontario joins top researchers, Pfizer, to develop new colon cancer drugs by Amy Fuller, Canadian Press (via Winnipeg Free Press), July 15, 2009. (See also the same news release, via Yahoo News). First two paragraphs:

The fight against colon cancer got an infusion of funds Wednesday as the Ontario government and leading medical research centres joined with the world's largest pharmaceutical research company to develop new drugs.

Pfizer, a New York-based company with 1,400 employees across Canada, is partnering with the Ontario Cancer Institute and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in a $6.9-million collaboration over three years.

See also: Pfizer Gives $5.4M for Ontario Cancer Research Project, GenomeWeb Daily News, July 16, 2009. [Free registration required][Twitter entry]. Excerpts:

Pfizer Global Research and Development will collaborate with two Ontario institutes to discover and validate targets that could be used to diagnose, predict, or treat colorectal cancer.

.....

Ben Neel, who is director of OCI and is serving as a principal investigator on the project, said in a statement that the collaboration will "join the world class genomics and informatics programs at OICR, cutting edge research in cancer stem cell biology and functional genomics at OCI/PMH and the world's largest pharmaceutical company in a concerted effort to bring new therapies to colon cancer patients worldwide."