Stem cell in alternative treatments for brain tumors: potential for gene delivery

Abstract

Despite ongoing research efforts and attempts to bring new drugs into trial, the prognosis for brain tumors remains poor. Patients with the most common and lethal intracranial neoplasia, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), have an average survival of one year with combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy and temozolomide. One of the main problems in the treatment of GBM is getting drugs across the blood brain barrier (BBB) efficiently. In an attempt to solve this problem, there are ongoing experimental and clinical trials to deliver drugs within stem cells. The purpose for this method is the ease by which stem cells home to the brain. This review discusses the experimental and clinical applications of stem cells for GBM. We also discuss the different properties of stem cells. This information is important to understand why one stem cell would be advantageous over another in cell therapy. We provide an overview of the different drug delivery methods, gene-based treatments and cancer vaccines for GBM, including the stem cell subset.

Emerging Cellular Therapies for Glioblastoma Multiforme

“…A similar concept relates to the use of stem cells that can cross the BBB as vehicles for delivering drugs to the brain. The efficacy of mesenchymal and neural stem cells as drug delivery vectors has recently been explored by in-vitro studies and in-vivo animal studies and has yielded promising results [ 4 ]. For instance, Mariotti et al proposed the efficacy of drug-containing mesenchymal stem cells administered intranasally through the cribriform plate, causing satisfactory tumor regression in a mouse model [ 4 ].…”

“…The efficacy of mesenchymal and neural stem cells as drug delivery vectors has recently been explored by in-vitro studies and in-vivo animal studies and has yielded promising results [ 4 ]. For instance, Mariotti et al proposed the efficacy of drug-containing mesenchymal stem cells administered intranasally through the cribriform plate, causing satisfactory tumor regression in a mouse model [ 4 ]. Moreover, researchers have used a similar delivery method to expose the GBM lesion to oncolytic viruses and genes that induce selective apoptosis in the malignant cells [ 4 ].…”

“…The mechanism of resistance in this subtype has been attributed to mutation of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair enzymes [ 1 ]. Despite many years of research, GBM remains poorly responsive to available therapies [ 2 , 4 - 5 ]. Therefore, GBM patients who receive the conventional combination of chemoradiotherapies and surgical resection still have a dismal average one-year survival and a high recurrence rate [ 2 - 5 ].…”

“…Therefore, GBM patients who receive the conventional combination of chemoradiotherapies and surgical resection still have a dismal average one-year survival and a high recurrence rate [ 2 - 5 ]. One of the main difficulties in treating GBM is getting a significant dosage of the chemotherapeutic agent to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reach the lesion while limiting its severe adverse systemic effects [ 4 ].…”

Stem Cell Therapy for Brain Tumors

“…In the BM, MSCs contacting the abluminal region of the central sinus can function as "gatekeepers" that regulate BM homeostasis and function [40,41]. In addition to the regenerative differentiation capacity of MSCs, the protective function of these cells underscores many other non-progenitor functions such as immunoenhancement, immunomodulation, and the maintenance of homeostasis as well as the maintenance of a unique niche microenvironment through the secretion of soluble factors [28,42].…”