Engineered mesenchymal stem/stromal cells against cancer.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Biology
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) possess inherent tumor-homing capabilities, making them attractive for cancer treatment.
• MSCs can be engineered to deliver various therapeutic agents, including proteins, microRNAs, and oncolytic viruses, directly to the tumor microenvironment.
• This targeted delivery aims to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce systemic toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in engineering MSCs for targeted cancer therapy.
• To highlight strategies for enhancing the specificity and efficacy of MSC-based cancer treatments.
• To discuss challenges and future directions in MSC-mediated cancer eradication and immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical studies and clinical trials involving engineered MSCs for cancer therapy.
• Analysis of different therapeutic payloads delivered by MSCs (proteins, microRNAs, drugs, viruses).
• Examination of engineering strategies to optimize MSC homing, retention, and therapeutic payload release.

Main Results:

• Engineered MSCs have demonstrated potential in preclinical models and early clinical trials for delivering cancer therapeutics.
• Various therapeutic modalities, including oncolytic viruses and gene therapies, have been successfully co-delivered by MSCs.
• Challenges remain in achieving consistent delivery efficiency and ensuring long-term safety.

Conclusions:

• Engineered MSCs represent a promising platform for developing targeted cancer therapies.
• Further optimization is needed to overcome current limitations in delivery efficiency and safety.
• Continued research in MSC engineering holds potential for advancing cancer eradication and immunotherapy.