Immunomodulatory neural stem cells for brain tumour therapy.
Advances in the understanding of stem cells have enabled the development of novel therapies for brain tumours. Neural stem cells (NSCs) possess the ability to migrate throughout the CNS. By exploiting the tropism of NSCs to various neural pathologies (e.g., glioma, degeneration, stroke and so on) and the delivery of various immunomodulatory cytokines, new treatments for brain tumours have been investigated. These new strategies offer significantly more specificity than existing treatment regimens, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. As methods in isolating and culturing NSCs are better understood, clinical applications of this therapeutic strategy may inevitably emerge. Here, the preclinical advances and the results supporting the effectiveness of stem cell therapies are reviewed. In addition, the obstacles to clinical development and methods to circumvent these caveats are discussed.
Yu
Jeffrey J
JJ
Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA. yuj@cshs.org
Sun
Xiaonan
X
Yuan
Xiangpeng
X
Lee
Jang-Won
JW
Snyder
Evan Y
EY
Yu
John S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
D007155:Immunologic Factors