Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: Developmental origin, tumorigenesis and translational cancer therapeutics

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

While a large and growing body of research has demonstrated that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) play a dual role in tumor growth and inhibition, studies exploring the capability of MSCs to contribute to tumorigenesis are rare. MSCs are key players during tumorigenesis and cancer development, evident in their faculty to increase cancer stem cells (CSCs) population, to generate the precursors of certain forms of cancer (e.g. sarcoma), and to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition to create the CSC-like state. Indeed, the origin and localization of the native MSCs in their original tissues are not known. MSCs are identified in the primary tumor sites and the fetal and extraembryonic tissues. Acknowledging the developmental origin of MSCs and tissue-resident native MSCs is essential for better understanding of MSC contributions to the cellular origin of cancer. This review stresses that the plasticity of MSCs can therefore instigate further risk in select therapeutic strategies for some patients with certain forms of cancer. Towards this end, to explore the safe and effective MSC-based anti-cancer therapies requires a strong understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of MSC action, ultimately guiding new strategies for delivering treatment. While clinical trial efforts using MSC products are currently underway, this review also provides new insights on the unde

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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