Nature Reports Stem Cells Contents: December 18 2008

December 18 2008

Top stories Cancer stem cells Cancer stem cells, becoming common Tumour cells that can initiate a new tumour are not so rare as previously thought, putting the concept of the 'cancer stem cell' under the spotlight again The cancer stem cell concept is controversial and contentious, and that's even more true with Sean Morrison's Nature article finding that melanoma cancer stem cells are common and the standard assays flawed. Correspondence sent to Nature and Nature Reports arising from that publication can be found on the Niche. Also: a web focus featuring NPG research articles, including a news and views by Connie Eaves; a review by Irving Weissman discussing the cancer stem cell hypothesis in experimental design and therapies; and a compilation of research highlights, meeting reports and features on cancer stem cells from Nature Reports Stem Cells. Stem cell tourism and clinical trials Offshore stem cell treatments require sensitive regulation A commentary by Sorapop Kiatpongsan and Douglas Sipp analyses the costs, risks and benefits of unregulated stem cell procedures for patients, practitioners, scientists and governments Stick to the guidelines and fewer get hurt The ISSCR hopes its handbook will prompt regulators and governments to shut shady clinics. Short articles keying off recent publications: How to make a stem cell home Making blood stem cell niches in vivo and in vitro Chan, C. K. F. et al. Nature advance online publication, doi:10.1038/nature07547 (10 December 2008). Lutolf, M. P. et al. Integr. Biol. doi:10.1039/b815718a (published online 21 November 2008). Human mammary glands in mice A new technique identifies regenerative cells Eirew, P. et al. Nature Med. Published online, doi:10.1038/nm.1791 Stem cell lines accrue cancer mutations Chromosome instability is a problem for long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells Lefort, N., et al. Nat Biotechnol. Published online: 23 November 2008 doi: 10.1038/nbt.1509 Spits, C., et al. Nat Biotechnol. Published online: 23 November 2008 doi:10.1038/nbt.1510 From one, many genetically different embryonic stem cells Copy number variants crop up in routine ES cell culture Liang, Q., Conte, N., Skarnes, W.C. & Bradley, A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 105, 17453-17456 (2008) A neuron's molecular MapQuest CDK5 plays a critical role in integrating new neurons into the adult brain Jessberger, S. et al. PLoS Biol. 6, e272 (2008); doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060272. Adult monkey cells reprogrammed Mouse, human and monkey cells can be induced to pluripotency Liu, H. et al. Cell Stem Cells 3, 587-590 (2008). Poising ES cells for differentiation The histone variant H2AZ cooperates with Polycomb proteins Creyghton, M.P. et al. Cell 135, 649-661 (2008). Other stem cell content on NPG Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology has articles on human embryo and embryonic stem cell research in the United Kingdom (by Robin Lovell-Badge) and in the United States (by Richard Hynes). See also our feature comparing policy trajectories in Germany, the UK, and the US. In an article in Nature Methods, Nathan Blow describes how better cell lines along with improved differentiation and culture technologies are pulling more researchers into stem cell research. Got an opinion to share? Let us know at theniche@nature.com Nature Reports Stem Cells is an interactive forum for stem cell scientists and other stakeholders to communicate about the research, policy, ethics, business and medicine of stem cell science. And it's all free! Visit Nature Reports Stem Cells You have been sent this table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time, by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at: www.nature.com/nams/svc/myaccount (You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant). Register Comment on the site For further technical assistance, please contact our registration department For print subscription enquiries, please contact our subscription department For other enquiries, please contact our feedback department Nature Publishing Group | 345 Park Ave South | New York | NY 10010-1707 | USA Nature Publishing Group's worldwide offices: .London - Paris - Munich - New Delhi - Tokyo - Melbourne - .San Diego - San Francisco - Washington - New York - Boston