Cited by 75Mesenchymal stem cell researchCancer Cells and MetastasisImmune cells in cancer

Mesenchymal stromal cells as cancer promoters

Open access
Antoon, Roula, Overdevest, Nina, Saleh, Amr H., Keating, Armand·2024·Oncogene

Abstract

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are important cellular constituents of tumor stroma that play an active role in tumor development. Complex interactions between MSCs and cancer promote tumor progression by creating a favorable milieu for tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, motility, invasion, and metastasis. The cellular heterogeneity, source of origin, diversity in isolation methods, culture techniques and model systems of MSCs, together with the different tumor subtypes, add to the complexity of MSC-tumor interactions. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of MSC-mediated tumor promotion and evaluate cell-stromal interactions between cancer cells, MSCs, cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and the extracellular matrix (ECM). A more thorough understanding of tumor-MSC interactions is likely to lead to better cancer management.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41388-024-03183-1

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178 of 178 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • IL-6 secreted by mesenchymal stromal cells functions as a growth factor for multiple myeloma cells, enhancing their survival and augmenting resistance to apoptosis.

    “IL-6 secreted by MSCs functions as a growth factor for MM cells, enhancing their survival and augmenting resistance to apoptosis.”

    From Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword (2025) · cites this paper as [299]

    The Background section, “MSCs release growth-promoting signals” (page unavailable), says MSC-derived IL-6 promotes growth in several cancers. It does not establish that IL-6 enhances multiple myeloma cell survival or resistance to apoptosis; the passage discussing apoptosis attributes its inhibition to other MSC-released factors. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In multiple myeloma, mesenchymal stromal cells demonstrate a modified gene expression profile relative to healthy cells, characterized by notable upregulation of genes linked to tumor-supportive pathways, such as NF-kB, STAT3, and PI3K/AKT signaling.

    “In multiple myeloma, mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate a modified gene expression profile relative to healthy cells, characterized by notable upregulation of genes linked to tumor-supportive pathways, such as NF-kB, STAT3, and PI3K/AKT signaling.”

    From Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword (2025) · cites this paper as [299]

    The Background section on cancer-associated MSCs says they differ from MSCs in healthy tissue, and the Conclusion links MSC-mediated tumor promotion to STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling. But the cited passages do not establish that MSCs in multiple myeloma have a gene-expression profile with upregulated NF-κB, STAT3, and PI3K/AKT pathway genes relative to healthy cells. The paper's reference to abnormal MSCs in multiple myeloma does not supply those specifics. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mesenchymal stromal cells have demonstrated the ability to augment the stem-like characteristics of multiple myeloma cells, thereby promoting their dormancy and potential for relapse following treatment.

    “Moreover, MSCs have demonstrated the ability to augment the stem-like characteristics of MM cells, thereby promoting their dormancy and potential for relapse following treatment.”

    From Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword (2025) · cites this paper as [299]

    The Background section, “MSCs can promote properties of stem cells in cancer” (page unavailable), says MSCs can increase stem-like characteristics in several cancers, but does not establish this for multiple myeloma. A separate Background passage on cancer-associated MSCs discusses post-chemotherapy relapse in AML, not myeloma; neither passage supports the claimed link to myeloma-cell dormancy and relapse. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • These pathways enhance tumor cell proliferation and contribute to the immune-privileged environment of the bone marrow, enabling malignant plasma cells to evade immune surveillance.

    “The pathways enhance tumor cell proliferation and contribute to the immune-privileged environment of the bone marrow, enabling malignant plasma cells to evade immune surveillance.”

    From Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword (2025) · cites this paper as [299]

    The Background sections on growth-promoting signals and anti-tumor immune responses say that bone-marrow MSCs can promote cancer growth and suppress immunity, allowing cancer cells to evade detection. The Conclusion also says MSCs make the bone marrow favorable to malignant-cell progression. These passages do not establish that the described pathways create an immune-privileged bone-marrow environment specifically enabling malignant plasma cells to evade surveillance. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mesenchymal stromal cells in the multiple myeloma microenvironment may undergo epigenetic modifications that promote tumor growth and contribute to drug resistance.

    “Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells in the multiple myeloma microenvironment may undergo epigenetic modifications that promote tumor growth and contribute to drug resistance.”

    From Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword (2025) · cites this paper as [299]

    The Background section reports that MSCs are attracted to multiple myeloma cells, and reference 76 describes MSCs favoring myeloma cell growth. The section on cancer-associated MSCs describes epigenetic changes in ovarian-cancer-associated MSCs and drug resistance in AML, but does not establish that epigenetic changes in myeloma-associated MSCs promote growth or drug resistance. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Antoon, R., Overdevest, N., Saleh, A. H., & Keating, A.
Affiliations
  • Krembil Research Institute (CA)
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • University Health Network (CA)
Corresponding author
  • Saleh, Amr H.
  • Keating, Armand
Venue
Oncogene
Published
2024-10-16
Volume
43
Issue
49
Pages
3545-3555
ISSN
  • 0950-9232 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5594
OpenAlex
W4403470637
Cited by
75
References
178
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 36
FWCI
5.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Oncogene (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Mesenchymal stem cell research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
Keywords
mesenchymal stem cells, tumor stroma, tumor microenvironment, tumor progression, tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, extracellular matrix
MeSH terms
Animals, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Neoplasms, Tumor Microenvironment, Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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