Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery

Abstract

Self renewal, extensive proliferation and multilineage differentiation ability in vitro and in vivo make mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) powerful tools for tissue engineering. Beyond their potential uses in regenerative medicine, an emerging field of research aims to utilize MSCs for anti-cancer treatment. These strategies are based on the remarkable ability of MSCs to localize and integrate into tumor stroma and deliver anti-cancer agents (US20100055167, US20120207725, US20120010499). Genetically engineered MSCs can specifically target different tumor types and locally secrete therapeutic proteins such as interferons α and β, interleukins 2 and 12 or chemokine CX3CL1 (US20110027239, US20120087901, WO2012071527). In addition, MSCs have also been engineered to deliver oncolytic viruses, for targeted chemotherapy using enzyme prodrug conversion or for inducing tumor cell apoptosis by delivering tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) (WO2012106281). The patent databases FPO and Delphion were used to locate patents that were published between 2005 and 2013. Here, we present the current progress and the most recent patents on MSC anti-cancer drug delivery systems and discuss future directions in the field.

Human Umbilical Cord Blood–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Producing IL15 Eradicate Established Pancreatic Tumor in Syngeneic Mice

“…The results presented here support feasibility of this strategy. Accumulative evidences demonstrate that MSCs are able to migrate to tumor site or inflammatory region (31,32). In this study, histology analysis showed accumulation of MSCs in tumor site, but not in other organ sites.…”

Paclitaxel is incorporated by mesenchymal stromal cells and released in exosomes that inhibit in vitro tumor growth: A new approach for drug delivery

“…More important, it has also been demonstrated that MSCs, after systemic injection, are able to home in on inflammatory microenvironments or are able to migrate into tumor mass [3]. Based on these MSC properties, several laboratories set up models of engineered MSCs for producing anti-cancer molecules (such as interferons, interleukins, chemokines) to be delivered more specifically into the tumor microenvironment [4][5][6].…”

Perspectives in Engineered Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Based Anti- Cancer Drug Delivery Systems

“…As a consequence, a need for more targeted anticancer therapies is obvious. A lot of researchers are in agreement that therapy based on targeted delivery is a promising tool, particularly in cancer treatments [147]. Targeted drug-delivery systems (e.g., liposomes, nano-particles) have often been proposed in an effort to reduce the side effects of toxic drugs and improve the efficacy of treating malignant diseases.…”