The role of stem cells in tumor targeting and growth suppression of gliomas

Abstract

Glioma remains the most challenging solid organ tumor to treat successfully. Based on the capacity of stem cells to migrate extensively and target invading glioma cells, the transplantation of stem cells as a cell-based delivery system may provide additional tools for the treatment of gliomas. In addition to the use of modified stem cells for the delivery of therapeutic agents, unmodified stem cells have been shown to have growth-suppressing effects on tumors in vitro and in vivo. This review outlines the probable factors involved in tumor tropism and tumor growth suppression, with a specific focus on the use of unmodified stem cells in the treatment of gliomas. Based on these and further future data, clinical trials may be justified.

The novel-molecule T11TS facilitated arousal of glioma-mediated dormancy of bone-marrow hematopoietic stem-cells

“…However, there is an iota of literature about the status of bone marrow-derived HSCs during glioma condition and/or immunotherapeutic modulation of HSCs. There has been little success in preventing destructive nature of glioma either by modulating glioma stem cells or by using genetically engineered stem cells in glioma therapy [23,24] .…”

Neural Stem Cells Improve Intracranial Nanoparticle Retention and Tumor-Selective Distribution

“…Because MSCs can contribute to glioma progression and exhibit reduced tropism to intracranial lesions compared with neural stem cells (NSCs) [7, 8]; here, we use a human NSC line (HB1.F3) currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical studies to target a prodrug-activating enzyme to invasive glioma [9–11]. We first biotinylate the NSC surface [12] before coupling them to streptavidin-conjugated, polystyrene NPs, which were chosen for this study because of their stability, preclinical biocompatibility [13] and prior use as a generic model of intracranial NP distribution [14].…”