The potential applications of artificially modified exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells in tumor therapy

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have tumor-homing ability and play critical roles in tumor treatment, but their dual influences on tumor progression limit their therapeutic applications. Exosomes derived from MSCs (MSC-exosomes) exhibit great potential in targeted tumor treatment due to their advantages of high stability, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility, long circulation time and homing characteristics. Furthermore, the artificial modification of MSC-exosomes could amplify their advantages and their inhibitory effect on tumors and could overcome the limit of tumor-promoting effect. In this review, we summarize the latest therapeutic strategies involving artificially modified MSC-exosomes in tumor treatment, including employing these exosomes as nanomaterials to carry noncoding RNAs or their inhibitors and anticancer drugs, and genetic engineering modification of MSC-exosomes. We also discuss the feasibility of utilizing artificially modified MSC-exosomes as an emerging cell-free method for tumor treatment and related challenges.

Bioengineered Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Anti-Cancer Therapy: Current Trends and Future Prospects

“…Such EVs have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis and suppress epithelialmesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervical cancer [83,84]. Other approaches include vesicle loading with specific miRNAs, siRNAs, mRNAs, ncRNAs, proteins and peptides that have previously shown anti-tumour activity [69,85,86]. Some studies have reported the use of MSC-EVs to counteract chemoresistance in glioblastoma multiforme cells by delivering anti-miR-9, with promising results in reversing the chemoresistance of this tumour [87].…”