Mesenchymal stem cell: a new horizon in cancer gene therapy

Cancer Gene Ther. 2016 Sep;23(9):285-6. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2016.35. Epub 2016 Aug 19.

Abstract

Cancer is one of the main problems in public health worldwide. Despite rapid advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the efficacy of current treatment strategies is still limited. There are promising new results in animal models whereby mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used as vehicles for targeted therapies. The use of MSCs as therapeutic biological vehicles in cell therapy has several advantages, including immune-silence, tumor tropism, easy and rapid isolation, ex vivo expansion, multilineage differentiation and the capacity to deliver a number of therapeutic agents. Some studies have shown that the microenvironment of the tumor provides a preferential niche for homing and survival of MSCs. Here, we have highlighted various applications of MSCs in cancer gene therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Biomarkers