Stem cell-directed targeted chemotherapy primes drug-resistant metastatic ovarian tumors for elimination by natural killer cells.
Massumi M., Li G., Owji H., Yang G., Girda E., Hatefi A.
Laboratory Study, published in Mol Ther Oncol (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- 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
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Laboratory Study
- Journal
- Mol Ther Oncol (2026)
- Country
- United States
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- PubMed
- PMID
- 42164422
- PMCID
- PMC13185996
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201214
Abstract (original English)
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) drive ovarian cancer metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and relapse. This study aimed to develop a combination therapeutic strategy capable of eliminating both rapidly proliferating ovarian cancer cells and drug-resistant CSCs, thereby eradicating metastatic disease and preventing relapse. We engineered an adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell clone (ASC-shCE2:yCD) that homes to tumors and locally converts the prodrugs irinotecan and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into the cytotoxic agents SN38 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This approach was combined with natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy to eradicate CSCs that survived chemotherapy. Using patient-derived, drug-resistant metastatic ovarian cancer models, we show that exposure to SN38 or 5-FU upregulates NKG2D stress ligands (MICA/B) on CSCs, enhancing their susceptibility to NK-mediated cytotoxicity. Real-time imaging demonstrated rapid homing of engineered adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to tumor sites within 3 days. In triple-immunodeficient CIEA NOG mice, ASC-directed enzyme/prodrug therapy followed by NK cell immunotherapy eliminated metastatic ovarian tumors and prevented relapse during the monitoring period. Histopathological and hematological analyses revealed no clinically significant toxicity. Collectively, these findings establish a stem cell-directed chemoimmunotherapy that primes drug-res
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
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