Stem cells as vectors for antitumour therapy
Open accessAbstract
Recent research suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to migrate specifically to tumours and their metastases throughout the body. This has led to considerable excitement about the possibility of modifying these cells to express anticancer molecules and using them as specific targeted anticancer agents. However, there are concerns that systemically delivered MSCs may have non-desirable effects, and there are also many unanswered questions including the mechanism of tumour homing. This review investigates the different MSC-delivered anticancer agents, addresses the questions and concerns, and tries to place this potential therapy in future cancer management.
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Although the anti-tumorigenic mechanisms of mesenchymal stromal cells are not fully understood, it is presumed that they are related to the downregulation of NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt pathways.
“Although the anti-tumorigenic mechanisms of MSCs are not fully understood, it is presumed that they are related to the downregulation of NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt pathways [55].”
From Mesenchymal stromal cells for bone sarcoma treatment: Roadmap to clinical practice (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
The section “MSCs—more than an inert drug vehicle: advantages” reports MSC-associated inhibition of Akt activity and downregulation of NF-κB and Wnt signalling in specific tumour models. It does not report PI3K downregulation, so the claim’s reference to the PI3K/Akt pathway goes beyond what our copy states. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMesenchymal stromal cells expressing IFN-β can reduce tumour size, induce apoptosis and increase survival in gliomas, metastatic breast, melanoma, endometrial, ovarian, hepatocellular, bronchioloalveolar and prostate models.
“MSCs expressing IFN-β can reduce tumour size, induce apoptosis and increase survival in the aforementioned cancer types [55], [102], [103], [104], [105], [106], [107], [108].”
From Mesenchymal stromal cells for bone sarcoma treatment: Roadmap to clinical practice (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
The ‘MSCs as delivery vectors for cancer therapy’ section reports that IFN-β-expressing MSCs induced apoptosis and increased survival and/or reduced tumour burden in glioma, metastatic breast, melanoma and prostate cancer models. It does not report those IFN-β treatment outcomes for endometrial, ovarian, hepatocellular or bronchioloalveolar models. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredViral replication and invasion to the surrounding tumour tissue induced apoptosis of cancer cells.
“Viral replication and invasion to the surrounding tumour tissue induced apoptosis of cancer cells [55].”
From Mesenchymal stromal cells for bone sarcoma treatment: Roadmap to clinical practice (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
The ‘MSCs as delivery vectors for cancer therapy’ section says the viruses destroy tumour cells through replication and release newly produced virus into surrounding tumour tissue after oncolysis. It does not say that this process induces apoptosis; the paper discusses apoptosis in connection with other therapies. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMSCs used as vectors of oncolytic adenoviruses improved survival in murine ovarian, breast and lung tumour models.
“MSCs have already been used as vectors of oncolytic adenoviruses in several in vitro and in vivo studies and improved survival in murine ovarian, breast and lung tumour models.”
From Mesenchymal stromal cells for bone sarcoma treatment: Roadmap to clinical practice (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
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References 114 · Cited by 109
- Authors
- Loebinger, M. R., & Janes, S. M.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Janes, S. M
- Venue
- Thorax
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2010-04-01
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 362-369
- ISSN
- 0040-6376 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3401681
- OpenAlex
- W2163229126
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 114
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 1.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Thorax (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust (091730)
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Mesenchymal stem cell research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Cancer Research and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Keywords
- mesenchymal stem cells, metastasis, tumor targeting, gene-modified stem cells
- MeSH terms
- Cell Movement, Genetic Vectors, Humans, Neoplasms, Genetic Therapy, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation, Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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