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Review
. 2009 May;9(5):597-612.
doi: 10.1586/era.09.22.

Applications of neural and mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of gliomas

Thomas Kosztowski  1 , Hasan A Zaidi, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa
Affiliations
Review

Applications of neural and mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of gliomas

Thomas Kosztowski et al. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2009 May.

Abstract

In addition to stem cells providing a better understanding about the biology and origins of gliomas, new therapeutic approaches have been developed based on the use of stem cells as delivery vehicles. The unique ability of stem cells to track down tumor cells makes them a very appealing therapeutic modality. This review introduces neural and mesenchymal stem cells, discusses the advances that have been made in the utilization of these stem cells as therapies and in diagnostic imaging (to track the advancement of the stem cells towards the tumor cells), and concludes by addressing various challenges and concerns regarding these therapies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Three models on the origins of CNS malignancies
(A) Normal adult NSCs are recruited to the site of tumor and help to regenerate tumor stromal cells. (B) NSCs undergo malignant transformation into a brain tumor stem cell. (C) Fully committed adult brain cells accumulate mutations over time to transform into brain tumor stem cells. NSC: Neural stem cell.
Figure 2
Figure 2. MSCs labeled with SPIO injected into intracranial glioma-bearing mice
The SPIO-labeled MSCs migrate towards the area of the brain containing the tumor. This modification of MSCs and the idea that MSCs home in on tumor cells allow for another way to image brain tumors and the extent of tumor infiltration into normal brain parenchyma. More importantly, it allows for the surveillance of the location of the therapeutic stem cells. Such labeling will be important in future therapies because it will allow clinicians to know whether the therapeutic stem cells have positioned themselves in a location that will be effective for the treatment of the tumor bulk and microsatellites. MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell; SPIO: Superparamagnetic iron oxide.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Potential clinical application of genetically engineered IL-12 hMSCs
In our laboratory, we are using hMSCs harvested from bone marrow as well as from adipose tissue. The advantage to adipose-derived MSCs is the ease of harvesting patient-specific MSCs. During surgery for resection of the brain tumor, the surgeon also takes a small fat graft from the patient. These MSCs can then be cultured and transduced to express various proteins, such as IL-12. Ideally, in future therapies, the genetically modified MSCs would be injected intra-arterially through the carotid artery, and the MSCs would migrate to the site of glioma and induce an anti-tumor immune response. hMSC: Human mesenchymal stem cell; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell.
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References

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