title: Mesenchymal stem cells as a double-edged sword in suppression or progression of solid tumor cells.
abstract: Tumor cells are able to attract mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to primary tumor site. On the other hand, MSCs secrete various factors to attract tumor cells towards BM. In this review, in addition to assessment of MSCs function at tumor sites and their impact on growth and metastasis of tumor cells, the importance of MSC in attraction of malignant cells to BM and their involvement in drug resistance of tumor cells have also been studied. Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search (2000-2015) of English-language literature using the terms mesenchymal stem cells, cancer cell, metastasis, and tumor microenvironment. MSCs migrate towards tumor microenvironment and are involved in both pro-tumorigenic and antitumorigenic functions. The dual function of MSCs at tumor sites is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the type and origin of MSCs, the cancer cell line under study, in vivo or in vitro conditions, the factors secreted by MSCs and interactions between MSCs, host immune cells and cancer cells. Therefore, MSCs can be regarded both as friends and enemies of cancer cells. Although the role of a number of pathways, including IL-6/STAT3 pathway, has been indicated in controlling the interaction between MSCs and tumor cells, other mechanisms by which MSCs can control the tumor cells are not clear yet. A better understanding of these mechanisms through further studies can determine the exact role of MSCs in cancer progression and identify them as important therapeutic agents or targets.
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norozi
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of biochemistry and hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of medical sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahrabi
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vosoughi
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. najmaldinsaki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Najmaldin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
keywords: Cancer cell; Mesenchymal stem cells; Metastasis; Tumor microenvironment