Engineered stem cells targeting multiple cell surface receptors in tumors

Role of liposomes in chemoimmunotherapy of breast cancer

In the dynamic arena of cancer therapeutics, chemoimmunotherapy has shown tremendous promise, especially for aggressive forms of breast cancer like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This review delves into the significant role of liposomes in enhancing the effectiveness of chemoimmunotherapy by leveraging breast cancer-specific mechanisms such as the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD), reprogramming the tumour microenvironment (TME), and enabling sequential drug release. We examine innovative dual-targeting liposomes that capitalise on tumour heterogeneity, as well as pH-sensitive formulations that offer improved control over drug delivery. Unlike prior analyses, this review directly links advancements in preclinical research-such as PAMAM dendrimer-based nanoplatforms and RGD-decorated liposomes-to clinical trial results, highlighting their potential to revolutionise TNBC treatment strategies. Additionally, we address ongoing challenges related to scalability, toxicity, and regulatory compliance, and propose future directions for personalised, immune-focused nanomedicine. This work not only synthesises the latest research but also offers a framework for translating liposomal chemoimmunotherapy from laboratory research to clinical practice.

Surface receptor-targeted protein-based nanocarriers for drug delivery: advances in cancer therapy

Significant progress has been made in cancer therapy with protein-based nanocarriers targeted directly to surface receptors for drug delivery. The nanocarriers are a potentially effective solution for the potential drawbacks of traditional chemotherapy, such as lack of specificity, side effects, and development resistance. Peptides as nanocarriers have been designed based on their biocompatible, biodegradable, and versatile functions to deliver therapeutic agents into cancer cells, reduce systemic toxicity, and maximize therapy efficacy through utilizing targeted ligands such as antibodies, amino acids, vitamins, and other small molecules onto protein-based nanocarriers and thus ensuring that drugs selectively accumulate in the cancer cells instead of healthy organs/drug release at a target site without effects on normal cells, which inherently caused less systemic toxicity/off-target effect. Moreover, their intrinsic protein backbone naturally degradesin vivo, providing another level of safety over synthetic materials. Various issues like immunogenicity, mass production, and quality control must be addressed for widespread use. However, further studies are necessary to perfect protein engineering and improve drug loading, protein modification, and targeting. Thus, it can be concluded that protein-based nanocarriers targeted against the surface receptors would help achieve cancer management in a more focused manner, thus minimizing toxicity. The further development of these nanoparticles could bring a significant change in cancer treatment so that more personalized, targeted, and safe therapies would be available to all patients.

Proximity Labeling: Precise Proteomics Technology for Mapping Receptor Protein Neighborhoods at the Cancer Cell Surface

Cell surface receptors are pivotal to cancer cell transformation, disease progression, metastasis, early detection, targeted therapy, drug responses, and clinical outcomes. Since they coordinate complex signaling communication networks in the tumor microenvironment, mapping the physical interaction partners of cell surface receptors in vivo is vital for understanding their roles, functional states, and suitability as therapeutic targets. Yet traditional methods like immunoprecipitation and affinity purification-mass spectrometry often fail to detect key but weak or transient receptor-protein interactions. Proximity labeling, a cutting-edge proteomics technology, addresses these technical challenges by enabling precise mapping of protein neighborhoods around a receptor target on the cell surface of cancer cells. This technique has been successfully applied in vitro and in vivo for proteomic mapping across various model systems. This review explores the fundamental principles, technologies, advantages, limitations, and applications of proximity labeling in cancer biology, focusing on mapping receptor microenvironments. By advancing mechanistic insights into cancer cell receptor signaling mechanisms, proximity labeling is poised to transform cancer research, improve targeted therapies, and illuminate avenues to overcome drug resistance.

Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy with multi-transgene armed mesenchymal stem cells for treating peritoneal carcinomatosis

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant interest for their tumor-tropic property, making them potential therapeutic delivery vehicles for cancer treatment. We have previously shown the significant anti-tumour activity in mice preclinical models and companion animals with naturally occurring cancers using non-virally engineered MSCs with a therapeutic transgene encoding cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (CDUPRT) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Clinical studies have shown improved response rate with combinatorial treatment of 5-fluorouracil and Interferon-beta (IFNb) in peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). However, high systemic toxicities have limited the clinical use of such a regime.

METHODS

In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of intraperitoneal administration of non-virally engineered MSCs to co-deliver CDUPRT/5-Flucytosine prodrug system and IFNb to potentially enhance the cGAS-STING signalling axis. Here, MSCs were engineered to express CDUPRT or CDUPRT-IFNb. Expression of CDUPRT and IFNb was confirmed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. The anti-cancer efficacy of the engineered MSCs was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo model. ES2, HT-29 and Colo-205 were cocultured with engineered MSCs at various ratio. The cell viability with or without 5-flucytosine was measured with MTS assay. To further compare the anti-cancer efficacy of the engineered MSCs, peritoneal carcinomatosis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of luciferase expressing ES2 stable cells. The tumour burden was measured through bioluminescence tracking.

RESULTS

Firstly, there was no changes in phenotypes of MSCs despite high expression of the transgene encoding CDUPRT and IFNb (CDUPRT-IFNb). Transwell migration assays and in-vivo tracking suggested the co-expression of multiple transgenes did not impact migratory capability of the MSCs. The superiority of CDUPRT-IFNb over CDUPRT expressing MSCs was demonstrated in ES2, HT-29 and Colo-205 in-vitro. Similar observations were observed in an intraperitoneal ES2 ovarian cancer xenograft model. The growth of tumor mass was inhibited by ~ 90% and 46% in the mice treated with MSCs expressing CDUPRT-IFNb or CDUPRT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results established the effectiveness of MSCs co-expressing CDUPRT and IFNb in controlling and targeting PC growth. This study lay the foundation for the development of clinical trial using multigene-armed MSCs for PC.

Stem Cells and Tumor-Killing Virus to Target Brain Tumor: In Pursuit to Bring a Potential Delivery Vehicle for the Central Nervous System Tumors

To target brain cancer, various therapeutic options are present to fight against cancer cells. But the existing therapies are not showing a proper curation of cancer patients. Henceforth, activating the immune cells and targeting oncogenes/proteins might be an emerging therapeutic approach to target and destroy malignant brain tumor. Stem cells (SCs) are considered potential immunomodulators that trigger the highly suppressed immune system in the tumor microenvironment. Also, engineered SCs can repress the aberrantly expressed oncoproteins that cause tumor cell proliferation and growth. SCs have an excellent migration capability to reach the infected site and support the regeneration of damaged blood vessels and tissues. Likewise, oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) is a promising novel therapeutic molecule in which genetically modified viruses can selectively replicate and destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Same as SCs, oncolytic viruses (OVs) tend to stimulate the host's innate and adaptive immune response to battle against the advanced brain tumor. In clinical studies, various OVs have shown good immunogenic responses with a high safety profile and tolerability against cancer patients with reduced morbidity and mortality rate. SCs act as an attractive cargo for OVs which helps to influence the tumor site and destroy the tumor volume. SCs protect the OVs from systemic degradation and promote therapeutic efficacy against cancer cells. SCs carried OVs might be a potential therapeutic way to bring an effective treatment option for brain tumors.

Immunomodulatory Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are regarded as highly promising cells for allogeneic cell therapy, owing to their multipotent nature and ability to display potent and varied functions in different diseases. The functions of MSCs, including native immunomodulation, high self-renewal characteristic, and secretory and trophic properties, can be employed to improve the immune-modulatory functions in diseases. MSCs impact most immune cells by directly contacting and/or secreting positive microenvironmental factors to influence them. Previous studies have reported that the immunomodulatory role of MSCs is basically dependent on their secretion ability from MSCs. This review discusses the immunomodulatory capabilities of MSCs and the promising strategies to successfully improve the potential utilization of MSCs in clinical research.

Pancreatic Tumor-Targeting Stemsome Therapeutics

Owing to the intrinsic ability of stem cells to target the tumor environment, stem-cell-membrane-functionalized nanocarriers can target and load active anticancer drugs. In this work, a strategy that focuses on stem cells that self-target pancreatic cancer cells is developed. In particular, malignant deep tumors such as pancreatic cancer cells, one of the intractable tumors that currently have no successful clinical strategy, are available for targeting and destruction. By gaining the targeting ability of stem cells against pancreatic tumor cells, stem cell membranes can encapsulate nano-polylactide-co-glycolide loaded with doxorubicin to target and reduce deep pancreatic tumor tissues. Considering the lack of known target proteins on pancreatic tumor cells, the suggested platform technology can be utilized for targeting any malignant tumors in which surface target receptors are unavailable.

Engineering Multi-Cellular Spheroids for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Multi-cellular spheroids are formed as a 3D structure with dense cell-cell/cell-extracellular matrix interactions, and thus, have been widely utilized as implantable therapeutics and various ex vivo tissue models in tissue engineering. In principle, spheroid culture methods maximize cell-cell cohesion and induce spontaneous cellular assembly while minimizing cellular interactions with substrates by using physical forces such as gravitational or centrifugal forces, protein-repellant biomaterials, and micro-structured surfaces. In addition, biofunctional materials including magnetic nanoparticles, polymer microspheres, and nanofiber particles are combined with cells to harvest composite spheroids, to accelerate spheroid formation, to increase the mechanical properties and viability of spheroids, and to direct differentiation of stem cells into desirable cell types. Biocompatible hydrogels are developed to produce microgels for the fabrication of size-controlled spheroids with high efficiency. Recently, spheroids have been further engineered to fabricate structurally and functionally reliable in vitro artificial 3D tissues of the desired shape with enhanced specific biological functions. This paper reviews the overall characteristics of spheroids and general/advanced spheroid culture techniques. Significant roles of functional biomaterials in advanced spheroid engineering with emphasis on the use of spheroids in the reconstruction of artificial 3D tissue for tissue engineering are also thoroughly discussed.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Immunomodulation: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that are emerging as the most promising means of allogeneic cell therapy. MSCs have inherent immunomodulatory characteristics, trophic activity, high invitro self-renewal ability, and can be readily engineered to enhance their immunomodulatory functions. MSCs affect the functions of most immune effector cells via direct contact with immune cells and local microenvironmental factors. Previous studies have confirmed that the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs are mainly communicated via MSC-secreted cytokines; however, apoptotic and metabolically inactivated MSCs have more recently been shown to possess immunomodulatory potential, in which regulatory T cells and monocytes play a key role. We review the immunomodulatory aspects of naïve and engineered MSCs, and discuss strategies for increasing the potential of successfully using MSCs in clinical settings.

A Bird's-Eye View of Cell Sources for Cell-Based Therapies in Blood Cancers

: Hematological malignancies comprise over a hundred different types of cancers and account for around 6.5% of all cancers. Despite the significant improvements in diagnosis and treatment, many of those cancers remain incurable. In recent years, cancer cell-based therapy has become a promising approach to treat those incurable hematological malignancies with striking results in different clinical trials. The most investigated, and the one that has advanced the most, is the cell-based therapy with T lymphocytes modified with chimeric antigen receptors. Those promising initial results prepared the ground to explore other cell-based therapies to treat patients with blood cancer. In this review, we want to provide an overview of the different types of cell-based therapies in blood cancer, describing them according to the cell source.