Engineered mesenchymal stem/stromal cells against cancer
Yuzhu Shi, Jia Zhang, Yanan Li, Chao Feng, Changshun Shao, Yufang Shi, Jiankai Fang, Yufang Shi, Jiankai Fang
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have garnered attention for their potential in cancer therapy due to their ability to home to tumor sites. Engineered MSCs have been developed to deliver therapeutic proteins, microRNAs, prodrugs, chemotherapy drugs, and oncolytic viruses directly to the tumor microenvironment, with the goal of enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Despite promising results in preclinical studies and clinical trials, challenges such as variability in delivery efficiency and safety concerns persist. Ongoing research aims to optimize MSC-based cancer eradication and immunotherapy, enhancing their specificity and efficacy in cancer treatment. This review focuses on advancements in engineering MSCs for tumor-targeted therapy.