Harnessing mesenchymal stem cell homing as an anticancer therapy.
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic progenitor cells that have been exploited as vehicles for cell-based cancer therapy. The general approach is based on the innate potential of adoptively applied MSC to undergo facilitated recruitment to malignant tissue. MSC from different tissue sources have been engineered using a variety of therapy genes that have shown efficacy in solid tumor models.



In this review we will focus on the current developments of MSC-based gene therapy, in particular the diverse approaches that have been used for MSCs-targeted tumor therapy. We also discuss some outstanding issues and general prospects for their clinical application.



The use of modified mesenchymal stem cells as therapy vehicles for the treatment of solid tumors has progressed to the first generation of clinical trials, but the general field is still in its infancy. There are many questions that need to be addressed if this very complex therapy approach is widely applied in clinical settings. More must be understood about the mechanisms underlying tumor tropism and we need to identify the optimal source of the cells used. Outstanding issues also include the therapy transgenes used, and which tumor types represent viable targets for this therapy.
a Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncology Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar , Technical University , Munich , Germany.
Anna
A
Hagenhoff
b Department of Surgery , Otto-von-Guericke University , Magdeburg , Germany.
Christiane J
CJ
Bruns
b Department of Surgery , Otto-von-Guericke University , Magdeburg , Germany.
Yue
Y
Zhao
a Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncology Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar , Technical University , Munich , Germany.
Irene
I
von Lüttichau
c Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery , University of Munich , Munich , Germany.
Hanno
H
Niess
d Department of Internal Medicine II , University of Munich , Munich , Germany.
Christine
C
Spitzweg
e Clinical Biochemistry Group, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV , University of Munich , Munich , Germany.
Peter J
PJ
Nelson
D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
Mesenchymal stem cell; cellular tumor therapy; engineering; suicide gene