Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

The human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are multipotent non-hematopoietic precursor cells that can generate various types of tissue cells which supports the formation of blood and fibrous connective tissue. hMSCs desirable stem cell characteristics, their ability to avoid immune rejection, and their homing ability in addition to easiness of their isolation and expansion made these cells a great therapeutic target for many diverse diseases. MSCs can be isolated from various tissues such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, dental pulp and can be expanded without greatly compromising genetic stability. Previous studies on site-directed and/or systemic administration of MSCs have revealed their ability of engraftment in a number of tissues after injury. Since the discovery that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells can be recruited to the tumor side and can home to the tumor stoma, hMSC became strong candidate for stem cell-based cancer therapy. Despite their great potential, these cells can also suffer from replicative exhaustion and acquire critically short telomeres that might increase the risk of cancer development. During transition to cancer, most often telomerase activation occurs which is highly specific to cancer and has the consequence that cancer cells maintain telomere function and thereby compensate for cell division-associated telomere attrition and facilitate crisis-bypass, which altogether promote tumor cell immortalization. The challenges and risks for cell-based therapies are multifaceted.In this current communication, the double-faced role of mesenchymal stem cells in cancer development and their therapeutic potential use in cancer therapy will be discussed. Thus, it will be focused and discussed different mechanisms that mesenchymal stem cells can show neoplastic transformation through telomere pathway and again maintain telomere homeostasis and thereby the cell’s ability to be expanded in vitro, and focus on a new therapeutic area that uses hMSCs as delivery vehicles as a potential new cancer treatment.