Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the most frequently used cell type for regenerative medicine. A large number of studies have shown the beneficial effects of MSC-based therapies to treat different pathologies, including neurological disorders, cardiac ischemia, diabetes, and bone and cartilage diseases. However, the therapeutic potential of MSCs in cancer is still controversial. While some studies indicate that MSCs may contribute to cancer pathogenesis, emerging data reported the suppressive effects of MSCs on cancer cells. Because of this reality, a sustained effort to understand when MSCs promote or suppress tumor development is needed before planning a MSCbased therapy for cancer. Herein, we provide an overview on the therapeutic application of MSCs for regenerative medicine and the processes that orchestrates tissue repair, with a special emphasis placed on cancer, including central nervous system tumors. Furthermore, we will discuss the current evidence regarding the double-edged sword of MSCs in oncological treatment and the latest advances in MSC-based anti-cancer agent delivery systems.

A facile and scalable in production non-viral gene engineered mesenchymal stem cells for effective suppression of temozolomide-resistant (TMZR) glioblastoma growth

“…Currently, the application of unmodified MSC in cancer is not under clinical investigation as MSCs have shown pro-or antitumour property, depending on the donor and types of MSC [64]. Engineering of MSCs with therapeutic genes is necessary as it offers a safer and more efficient cancer therapy as compared to the unstable and heterogenous unmodified cells [15,65,66]. The significant challenge here is then to efficiently deliver the desired therapeutic gene into MSCs so as to generate cells with high payload, high viability and yet with no changes in phenotypes, ideally, without the use of virus.…”

“…Owing to their immune-privilege and tumour-nesting properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been explored as cellular vehicles for cell-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (CDEPT) in targeting GBM [11][12][13][14][15]. CDEPT is one of the safer alternatives to conventional chemotherapy as it overcomes dose-limiting toxicities by enabling maximum cytotoxic effect at the vicinity of tumours through the in situ conversion of a non-toxic prodrug into active drug [16,17].…”

Melatonin and Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Key for Functional Integrity for Liver Cancer Treatment

“…These interesting findings seems very promising for designing novel trials for treating HCC using MSCs as a vector. In accordance with the clinical trials, MSCs have been extensively investigated in treatment of various types of cancer such as ovarian cancer, head and neck cancer and prostate cancer [86][87][88].…”

Extracellular Vesicles in the Tumour Microenvironment: Eclectic Supervisors

“…Likewise, since MSC biologically active materials are transferred to their released EV, the precise framing of EV functions is still challenging. This implies that to move toward MSC-EV based therapies extreme caution should be devoted to clearly define as to boost their anti-cancer properties, while removing their tumour-promoting activity [146]. Due to their ability to trigger specific immune responses, EV released from both SC and tumour cells may also be considered to be a novel tool for EV-mediated anti-cancer-based therapies [147].…”