Tumors Calling Stem Cells

Galway, Ireland -

The possibility of stem cells inducing tumor cell differentiation and thus reducing pathological potential has been speculated by numerous scientists. However, few studies have actually demonstrated that intravenously administered stem cells actually home to the area of tumor localization.

Recently it was published (Dwyer et al Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 secreted by primary breast tumors stimulates migration of mesenchymal stem cells. Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Sep 1;13(17):5020-7.) that human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells selectively home to human tumors implanted into immune compromised mice.

The investigators utilized primary breast cancer specimens and demonstrated that migration of mesenchymal stem cells was mediate in a significant part by section of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by the tumor.

This is one of the few studies demonstrating specific mechanisms for why stem cells selectively localize to tumors. No mention of stem cell mediated cancer differentiation was made. Instead the authors postulate that this approach may be used to deliver toxic payloads to tumors.