Title:The Potential Applications of Stem Cells for Cancer Treatment
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Author(s): Malikeh Rad Niknam and Farnoosh Attari*
Affiliation:
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Stem cells, cancer treatment, suicide gene therapy, encapsulation, nanoparticle carrier, immunosuppression.
Abstract: Scientists encounter many obstacles in traditional cancer therapies, including the side effects
on the healthy cells, drug resistance, tumor relapse, the short half-life of employed drugs in
the blood circulation, and the improper delivery of drugs toward the tumor site. The unique traits of
stem cells (SCs) such as self-renewal, differentiation, tumor tropism, the release of bioactive
molecules, and immunosuppression have opened a new window for utilizing SCs as a novel tool in
cancer treatment. In this regard, engineered SCs can secrete anti-cancer proteins or express enzymes
used in suicide gene therapy which locally induce apoptosis in neoplastic cells via the bystander
effect. These cells also stand as proper candidates to serve as careers for drug-loaded nanoparticles
or to play suitable hosts for oncolytic viruses. Moreover, they harbor great potential to be
employed in immunotherapy and combination therapy. However, tactful strategies should be devised
to allow easier transplantation and protection of SCs from in vivo immune responses. In spite
of the great hope concerning SCs application in cancer therapy, there are shortcomings and challenges
to be addressed. This review tends to elaborate on recent advances on the various applications
of SCs in cancer therapy and existing challenges in this regard.
