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Stem Cells for Cancer Therapy: Translating the Uncertainties and Possibilities of Stem Cell Properties into

Ahmed Faris Aldoghachi1, Zhi Xiong Chong2, Swee Keong Yeap3

  • 1M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang 43000, Malaysia.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Stem cells show promise in cancer therapy, with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) offering anti-cancer properties. Exosomal microRNAs from these cells and cancer stem cells (CSC) may enable new non-cell-based treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Science
  • Oncology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Cancer recurrence, drug resistance, and metastasis are significant challenges in cancer management.
  • Personalized medicine and targeted therapies are advancing cancer treatment.
  • Stem cells possess unique tumor-homing and anti-cancer properties, making them promising for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review interactions between cancer and key stem cell types: mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), iPSC-derived MSC (iMSC), and cancer stem cells (CSC).
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of MSC and iMSC-derived paracrine signaling and exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • To discuss the role of CSC-derived exosomal miRNAs in cancer recurrence and metastasis for potential non-cell-based therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on stem cell-cancer interactions.
  • Analysis of paracrine signaling and exosomal miRNA mechanisms.
  • Evaluation of therapeutic applications in the tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) exhibit anti-cancer properties and can be engineered as delivery agents.
  • Exosomal miRNAs from MSC and iMSCs show therapeutic potential within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • Cancer stem cell (CSC)-derived exosomal miRNAs are implicated in cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Stem cells, particularly MSC and iPSC, offer promising avenues for cancer therapy due to their tumor-homing and anti-cancer effects.
  • Exosomal miRNAs from stem cells and cancer stem cells represent a potential platform for novel, non-cell-based cancer treatments.
  • Understanding stem cell-exosome-cancer interactions is crucial for developing advanced therapeutic strategies against cancer recurrence and metastasis.
Keywords:
CSCMSCexosomesiMSCiPSCmiRNAparacrine factors

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