Mesenchymal stem cells as a double-edged sword in suppression or progression of solid tumor cells

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Cancer Microenvironment Research

Background:

• Tumor cells attract mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the primary tumor site.
• MSCs secrete factors that can attract cancer cells towards the bone marrow (BM).
• The interaction between MSCs and tumor cells is complex and bidirectional.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of MSCs in cancer progression, including tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance.
• To assess the importance of MSCs in attracting malignant cells to the bone marrow.
• To explore the dual function of MSCs within the tumor microenvironment.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed for English-language articles published between 2000 and 2015.
• Keywords used included: mesenchymal stem cells, cancer cell, metastasis, and tumor microenvironment.
• The review synthesized findings on MSC functions at tumor sites and their impact on tumor cells.

Main Results:

• MSCs exhibit both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic functions within the tumor microenvironment.
• The specific role of MSCs is influenced by factors like MSC origin, cancer cell type, and experimental conditions.
• MSCs play a role in attracting cancer cells to the bone marrow and contribute to drug resistance.

Conclusions:

• MSCs can be considered both allies and adversaries to cancer cells due to their dual functions.
• Pathways like IL-6/STAT3 are implicated in MSC-tumor cell interactions, but other mechanisms remain unclear.
• Further research is needed to elucidate MSC-mediated mechanisms in cancer for potential therapeutic applications or targets.