Sarcomas as a mise en abyme of mesenchymal stem cells: exploiting interrelationships for cell mediated anticancer therapy.
Mise en abyme meaning "placed into abyss or infinite recurrence" is an apt paradigm for the relentless growth of sarcoma cells. Its alternative meaning, "self-reflexive embedding" fits the central role attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs). Diversely sourced and defined, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be the cells of sarcoma origin, evolve a CSC phenotype and/or contribute to tumor growth through inherent qualities for homing, neovascularization, paracrine cross-feeding, microvesicle secretion, cell fusion, entosis and immune modulation. Exploiting these qualities, MSC expressing modified forms of the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) are being developed to complement more conventional radiation and chemotherapy.
Laboratory of Cell Biology and Advanced Cancer Therapies, Department of Oncology, Hematology and Respiratory Disease, University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. jorge.burns@unimore.it
Jorge S
JS
Burns
Akmal
A
Safwat
Giulia
G
Grisendi
Moustapha
M
Kassem
Massimo
M
Dominici
D000818:Animals; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*