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Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tumor Stroma

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Stem Cells and Cancer

Part of the book series: Cancer Drug Discovery and Development ((CDD&D))

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are defined, minimally, as cells that display a fibroblastic morphology in cell culture, exhibit a robust self-renewal capacity, and retain the ability to undergo trilineage differentiation into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. MSC can be isolated from diverse tissues but are most commonly isolated from red bone marrow. Accumulating evidence suggests that bone marrow MSC can be mobilized into the periphery to serve as regenerative stem cells at sites of injury and inflammation. Although the in vivo biology of MSC is poorly understood, several studies have demonstrated that MSC can be selectively recruited into tumors. Following engraftment within tumor stroma, MSC proliferate and acquire an activated phenotype similar tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF). Tumor-homing properties of MSC have lead to their utility as therapeutic cell-based antitumor protein delivery vehicles. However, with a greater appreciation for the influential role that the tumor microenvironment can serve during tumor initiation, promotion, and progression, MSC may enhance tumor progression following acquisition of TAF-like characteristics. A more comprehensive delineation of the biological role of MSC within tumor stroma will improve our understanding pf tumor-stroma interactions and facilitate future development of MSC-based clinical therapies.

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  1. Center for Childhood Cancer, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205

    Nicholas J. Sullivan & Brett M. Hall

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  1. Nicholas J. Sullivan
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  2. Brett M. Hall
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Correspondence to Brett M. Hall .

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    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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    Sullivan, N.J., Hall, B.M. (2009). Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tumor Stroma. In: Teicher, B., Bagley, R. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-933-8_3

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