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Updated: Jan 23, 2026
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Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
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Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - A Promising Cytotherapeutic Agent for Breast Cancer
Sankaranarayanan Srinivasan1, Nalinkanth V Ghone2, Hariharan Jayaraman3
1Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai - 600 036, Tamil Nadu, India.
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy
|January 22, 2026
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise for breast cancer treatment due to their tumor-homing and anti-cancer properties. This review explores their potential and challenges in developing effective MSC-based therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cellular Therapy
- Immunology
Background:
- Breast cancer treatment faces challenges like drug resistance and tumor microenvironment complexity.
- Chemotherapy's non-specificity causes side effects, especially in aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer.
- Current targeted therapies are evolving, but novel cellular therapies offer a promising avenue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) against breast cancer.
- To summarize current MSC-based therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
- To explore the potential of genetically engineered MSCs and identify research gaps.
Main Methods:
- Review of fundamental biological mechanisms of MSC anti-cancer effects.
- Summary of current advances in MSC-based breast cancer therapies.
- Exploration of genetically engineered MSC potential and existing research gaps.
Main Results:
- MSCs are less immunogenic, possess immunomodulatory properties, and home to tumor sites.
- MSCs can be exploited for drug delivery and exhibit natural tumor-inhibiting capabilities.
- MSC efficacy may depend on cancer type, stage, and tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- MSCs offer a promising, less immunogenic cellular therapy for breast cancer.
- Further research into genetically engineered MSCs is needed to overcome current limitations.
- MSC-based therapies hold potential for tailored and effective breast cancer treatment.
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