Application of mesenchymal stem cell-based gene therapy in personalized treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Many pieces of evidence have been shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can selectively home tumor sites and take part in tumor stroma formation, the ability which has been recently implemented in the use of MSCs as specialized vectors for gene therapy of cancer which significantly has enhanced the selectivity and sensitivity of tumor gene therapy systems compared with the application of other commonly used vectors (viral and nanoparticles for e.g.) Furthermore, MSCs have the potency to be engineered not only for transferring anti-tumor agents but also to increase their homing efficacy in a personalized manner which hinders the immunological problems associated the autologous vectors. Herein, we will focus on the recent advances in engineered stem cells, to personally treat gastrointestinal tumors.A verity of approaches has been implemented for MSC-based treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. Different genetic engineering techniques have been implemented for inserting anti-cancer agents (IFγ as an apoptosis inducer, IL7 as an immunostimulant, and/or NK4 as an angiogenesis inhibitor) in MSCs derived from patients’ autologous tissues and/or enrichment of tumor-specific chemokines and cytokines receptors such as CCR1 (ligand of CCL3) to reduce therapeutics side effects on healthy tissues.The use of engineered MSCs as personalized vectors of prodrug gene therapy of cancer has opened up new windows for treatment of malignancies. Today’s many researchers are working hard to fit the method for targeting cancer-initiating cells and combining it with a suitable chemotherapy approach to increases its therapeutic efficacy for gastrointestinal malignancies as well as other types of cancer.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mesenchymal stem cell ، cancer cell therapy ، personalized Medicine