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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Evaluation of Stem Cell Properties in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells Using Multi and Single Cell-based Spheres Assays
Published on: January 3, 2015
Targeting of mesenchymal stem cells to ovarian tumors via an artificial receptor
Svetlana Komarova1, Justin Roth, Ronald Alvarez
1Division of Human Gene Therapy, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294- 2172, USA. lpereb@uab.edu.
Background:
Mesenchymal Progenitor/Stem Cells (MSC) respond to homing cues providing an important mechanism to deliver therapeutics to sites of injury and tumors. This property has been confirmed by many investigators, however, the efficiency of tumor homing needs to be improved for effective therapeutic delivery. We investigated the feasibility of enhancing MSC tumor targeting by expressing an artificial tumor-binding receptor on the MSC surface.
Methods:
Human MSC expressing an artificial receptor that binds to erbB2, a tumor cell marker, were obtained by transduction with genetically modified adenoviral vectors encoding an artificial receptor (MSC-AR). MSC-AR properties were tested in vitro in cell binding assays and in vivo using two model systems: transient transgenic mice that express human erbB2 in the lungs and ovarian xenograft tumor model. The levels of luciferase-labeled MSCs in erbB2-expressing targeted sites were evaluated by measuring luciferase activity using luciferase assay and imaging.
Results:
The expression of AR enhanced binding of MSC-AR to erbB2-expressing cells in vitro, compared to unmodified MSCs. Furthermore, we have tested the properties of erbB2-targeted MSCs in vivo and demonstrated an increased retention of MSC-AR in lungs expressing erbB2. We have also confirmed increased numbers of erbB2-targeted MSCs in ovarian tumors, compared to unmodified MSC. The kinetic of tumor targeting by ip injected MSC was also investigated.
Conclusion:
These data demonstrate that targeting abilities of MSCs can be enhanced via introduction of artificial receptors. The application of this strategy for tumor cell-based delivery could increase a number of cell carriers in tumors and enhance efficacy of cell-based therapy.
Insights
Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) with artificial receptors show enhanced tumor targeting. This improved homing increases the number of therapeutic cell carriers in tumors, boosting cell-based therapy efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are utilized for targeted therapeutic delivery to injury sites and tumors.
- Current MSC tumor homing efficiency requires improvement for effective cancer treatment.
- This study explores enhancing MSC tumor targeting by engineering artificial receptors onto their surface.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of enhancing Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) tumor targeting through the expression of artificial tumor-binding receptors.
- To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of engineered MSCs with enhanced tumor-homing capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Human MSCs were genetically modified using adenoviral vectors to express an artificial receptor (MSC-AR) targeting the tumor marker erbB2.
- In vitro cell binding assays and in vivo studies using erbB2-expressing transgenic mice and ovarian xenograft models were performed.
- Luciferase-labeled MSCs were quantified in targeted sites using luciferase assays and imaging to assess homing efficiency.
Main Results:
- Engineered MSC-AR demonstrated significantly enhanced binding to erbB2-expressing cells in vitro compared to unmodified MSCs.
- In vivo studies showed increased retention of MSC-AR in erbB2-expressing lungs and a higher number of MSC-AR within ovarian tumors.
- The kinetics of tumor targeting following intraperitoneal injection of MSCs were also analyzed.
Conclusions:
- Introducing artificial receptors enhances the tumor-targeting abilities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs).
- This strategy holds potential for improving cell-based cancer therapy by increasing the number of therapeutic cell carriers within tumors.
- Engineered MSCs represent a promising approach for more effective targeted cancer treatment.
