Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Extracellular Vesicles in Osteosarcoma Pathogenesis and Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive bone tumor in children and adolescents with poor prognosis due to relapse and metastasis.
• The genetic complexity of OS hinders the identification of effective therapeutic targets.
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are implicated in OS development and progression through paracrine signaling and interaction with tumor cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted role of MSCs in osteosarcoma (OS) pathogenesis.
• To elucidate the function of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by OS cells and MSCs in tumor progression.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived EVs in OS treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the interaction between MSCs and OS cells.
• Analysis of the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication within the OS tumor microenvironment.
• Evaluation of current and potential therapeutic applications of MSC-EVs in OS.

Main Results:

• MSCs influence OS progression by affecting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, immune response, and metastasis via paracrine signaling.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication, transferring functional molecules like miRNAs and proteins, thereby driving OS progression.
• MSC-derived EVs exhibit dual roles, with both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects, and can be engineered for targeted anti-cancer delivery.

Conclusions:

• MSCs significantly contribute to osteosarcoma (OS) pathogenesis through complex interactions and EV-mediated communication.
• EVs secreted by MSCs and OS cells are critical mediators in the OS tumor microenvironment.
• Engineered MSC-derived EVs represent a promising avenue for developing innovative therapeutic strategies against osteosarcoma.