Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model
05:08

Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model

Published on: February 17, 2019

Stem and progenitor cell-mediated tumor selective gene therapy

K S Aboody1, J Najbauer, M K Danks

  • 1Division of Hematology/Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA. kaboody@coh.org

Gene Therapy
|March 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Stem cells target tumors, delivering therapeutic genes to fight aggressive cancers. This cell-based therapy shows significant tumor reduction and improved survival in animal models, offering a promising new treatment approach.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Gene Therapy

Background:

  • Aggressive and metastatic tumors have poor prognoses.
  • Current cancer treatments cause toxic side effects.
  • Need for more effective, tumor-selective therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of stem/progenitor cells for targeted anticancer gene delivery.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of stem cell-mediated gene therapy in preclinical cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing stem cells (neural and mesenchymal) engineered to carry therapeutic genes.
  • Delivering these engineered stem cells to various metastatic tumor models in animals.
  • Assessing tumor volume, animal survival, and disease-free survival rates.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significant antitumor responses in animal models.
  • Reported substantial tumor volume reduction (up to 90%).
  • Achieved increased survival and complete cures in some models (e.g., 90% disease-free survival in neuroblastoma).

Conclusions:

  • Stem cells possess inherent tumor-tropic properties for targeted gene delivery.
  • Cell-based gene therapy is a promising strategy for treating invasive and metastatic cancers.
  • Further research into stem cell biology and gene product efficacy will enhance clinical utility.

More Related Videos

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells09:37

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

Published on: August 25, 2021

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for the Generation of Tumor Antigen-specific T Cells10:57

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for the Generation of Tumor Antigen-specific T Cells

Published on: October 24, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be inserted. The...
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be inserted. The...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...