About this Research Topic
Mesenchymal Stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising cellular tool for cell therapy, and considerable efforts have been made to introducing this advanced cell-based therapy into clinical practice. MSCs have been established as promising candidate sources for cell-based therapy due to their contributions to tissue and organ homeostasis, repair and support by self-renewal and multi-differentiation, as well as by their anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, immunomodulatory, pro-angiogenic, pleiotropic, tropic and trophic properties. Various diseases have been successfully treated by MSCs in animal models and hundreds of clinical trials related to the potential benefits of MSCs are ongoing or have been successfully concluded so far. In this regard MSCs have been used to treat several pathologies, such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. This ultimate, “cancer” is a devastating disease caused by abnormal, unexpected and non-controlled cellular proliferation. Although the oncological research and therapeutic options for cancer have improved exponentially over time, and efforts to find innovative therapies for the many types of cancer still in progress, we are a long way from an effective and definitive treatment that can help cure cancer.
In addition to chemo- and radiotherapeutic approaches, cancer immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cells), have emerged as an effective therapeutic tool by directing immunocompetent cells against the cancer target. Besides, recent advances in the treatment of various types of cancer include CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, theranostics, virus-mediated therapy, etc. Several stem cell types, including hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, or mobilized peripheral blood, as well as CAR-T cells, have been used for cancer treatment and/or have been engineered to deliver tumor-targeted therapeutic drugs (biological vehicle). Even induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been differentiated to active T-cells to reinforce cancer immunotherapy. MSCs-derived exosomes of note have been described as exhibiting tumor-suppressing effects. Certainly, MSCs remain a promising source of stem cells and an interesting therapeutic alternative to target cancer. Although MSC-based therapy has been identified as a cellular tool with the potential to treat cancer, the therapeutic use of MSCs for cancer has been challenged by contradictory pre-clinical studies suggesting both anti- and protumor effects. Despite this controversy, recent MSC-based therapies are providing highly effective and promising anticancer treatments. There is definitely a great scientific and clinical interest in generating a safe and effective MSC-based treatment for cancer to help improve the survival and quality of life (QoL) of patients suffering from this devastating disease.
Altogether, this Research Topic aims to highlight the recent advances, to cover the progress of basic and preclinical research, to address the relevant and novel therapeutic strategies, to identify and discuss the pitfalls, limiting factors and critical aspects to be considered for cancer-fighting benefits of the MSCs applications. Consequently, to elucidate the mechanism of action (MoA) of MSCs and to better understand the interaction between MSCs and cancer cells and thus further improve the clinical feasibility, safety and efficacy of MSCs cell-based therapeutic approaches.
This Research Topic is seeking to collect the latest finding and achievements in the field of MSCs cell-based therapy for cancer. We welcome submissions of original research, systematic review, mini-review, hypothesis and theory, opinion, method, brief research report, letters to the editor, commentary, and opinions.
The topic is broad and intends to cover research-related but not limited to:
• MSCs cell-based therapy in cancer
• Immunomodulation and cancer immunotherapies
• Molecular and cellular processes underlying therapeutic effects of MSCs in cancer
• MSCs, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in cancer
• Supportive and suppressive impacts of MSCs on tumor progression and metastasis (angiogenesis and tumor progression, homing to tumor sites)
• CRISPR/Cas9-based technology editing of MSCs in cancer immunotherapy
• MSCs-derived exosomes as mediators of immunomodulation and tissue repair
• MSCs, MSCs-derived exosomes and extracellular vesicles (EV) as biological carriers/vehicles for drug delivery.
In addition to chemo- and radiotherapeutic approaches, cancer immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cells), have emerged as an effective therapeutic tool by directing immunocompetent cells against the cancer target. Besides, recent advances in the treatment of various types of cancer include CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, theranostics, virus-mediated therapy, etc. Several stem cell types, including hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, or mobilized peripheral blood, as well as CAR-T cells, have been used for cancer treatment and/or have been engineered to deliver tumor-targeted therapeutic drugs (biological vehicle). Even induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been differentiated to active T-cells to reinforce cancer immunotherapy. MSCs-derived exosomes of note have been described as exhibiting tumor-suppressing effects. Certainly, MSCs remain a promising source of stem cells and an interesting therapeutic alternative to target cancer. Although MSC-based therapy has been identified as a cellular tool with the potential to treat cancer, the therapeutic use of MSCs for cancer has been challenged by contradictory pre-clinical studies suggesting both anti- and protumor effects. Despite this controversy, recent MSC-based therapies are providing highly effective and promising anticancer treatments. There is definitely a great scientific and clinical interest in generating a safe and effective MSC-based treatment for cancer to help improve the survival and quality of life (QoL) of patients suffering from this devastating disease.
Altogether, this Research Topic aims to highlight the recent advances, to cover the progress of basic and preclinical research, to address the relevant and novel therapeutic strategies, to identify and discuss the pitfalls, limiting factors and critical aspects to be considered for cancer-fighting benefits of the MSCs applications. Consequently, to elucidate the mechanism of action (MoA) of MSCs and to better understand the interaction between MSCs and cancer cells and thus further improve the clinical feasibility, safety and efficacy of MSCs cell-based therapeutic approaches.
This Research Topic is seeking to collect the latest finding and achievements in the field of MSCs cell-based therapy for cancer. We welcome submissions of original research, systematic review, mini-review, hypothesis and theory, opinion, method, brief research report, letters to the editor, commentary, and opinions.
The topic is broad and intends to cover research-related but not limited to:
• MSCs cell-based therapy in cancer
• Immunomodulation and cancer immunotherapies
• Molecular and cellular processes underlying therapeutic effects of MSCs in cancer
• MSCs, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in cancer
• Supportive and suppressive impacts of MSCs on tumor progression and metastasis (angiogenesis and tumor progression, homing to tumor sites)
• CRISPR/Cas9-based technology editing of MSCs in cancer immunotherapy
• MSCs-derived exosomes as mediators of immunomodulation and tissue repair
• MSCs, MSCs-derived exosomes and extracellular vesicles (EV) as biological carriers/vehicles for drug delivery.
Keywords: Mesenchymal stromal cells, cancer, cell therapy, T-cells, CAR T-cells, CRISPR/Cas9, exosomes, immunomodulation, cancer immunotherapies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, theranostics, homing, anti-tumor, pro-tumor, drug delivery
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
