Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells and extracellular vesicles for cancer therapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) hold great perspective for the therapy of a host of diseases due to regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties by differentiation into diverse cell populations, homing to damaged tissue regions, paracrine effects, and release of extracellular vesicles.

Areas covered

This review describes the isolation, characterization, and potential use of MSCs and ADSCs for benign and malignant diseases. The MSCs may be administered as whole cells or in form of their secretome that is held responsible for most of their beneficial effects. A special constituent of the paracrine components are the extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry a biologically potent cargo of proteins, cytokines, and RNA.

Expert opinion

The applications of MSCs and ADSCs are amply documented and have been investigated in preclinical models and many unregulated and a few controlled trials. Larger numbers of MSCs and ADSCs can be obtained for allogeneic transfer but imply difficulties including perseverance of the cells in vivo and possible differentiation into harmful cell types. MSC-derived cell-free preparations are easier to handle and manufacture for various applications. Especially, with the help of bioreactors, EVs can be obtained in excessive numbers and preloaded or charged with proteins, cytokines, and regulatory RNA specimen to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer.

KEYWORDS:

• Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells
• adipose-derived stromal/stem cells
• extracellular vesicles
• therapy
• drug carrier
• bioreactor

Article highlights

• Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have potent healing and anti-inflammatory effects

• Adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs) are easily accessible, have homing capability to inflammatory and tumor sites

• MSCs can be prepared to act as drug carriers

• Most effects of MSCs are retained in the cell-free secretome

• MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) show tropism and exert paracrine effects

• EVs can be loaded with proteins, cytokines and RNA species to exert effects

• MSCs and EVs can be produced in large number in bioreactors

• Clinical-grade MSC and EV preparations are available for trials

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

We thank B. Rath and A. Plangger for help in the preparation of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.