Laryngorhinootologie. 2018 Oct;97(10):678-687. doi: 10.1055/a-0650-4673. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

[Mesenchymal stem cells: Cancer promoting effects or tumor suppression - A current overview].

[Article in German; Abstract available in German from the publisher]

Scherzad A¹, Taeger J¹, Gehrke TE¹, Hagen R¹, Kleinsasser N¹, Hackenberg S¹.

Abstract

in English, German

The multimodal treatment of cancer deals with cancer cells as well as with the cancer surrounding stroma. This stroma contains non-malignant cells like fibroblasts, immune cells as well as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). MSC have the ability to migrate towards cancer tissue. In the current literature the impact of MSC on cancer cells is discussed divergently. The majority of the current publications reveal an induction of cancer progression by MSC. Four main processes namely the secretion of soluble factors and cell-cell contact, the transdifferentiation of MSC into carcinoma associated fibroblasts, the improvement of neoangiogenesis and the induction of immune suppression are responsible for cancer progression. This publication gives an overview on the current literature.