Endometrial Regenerative Cells Inhibit Glioma

San Diego, CA -

Endometrial Regenerative Cells (ERC) are a population of adherent pluripotent stem cells that share certain features with mesenchymal stem cells such as ability to differentiate into bone, cartilage and fat, as well as numerous surface markers (CD90, CD105, CD73).  Interestingly, endometrial regenerative cells also have some unique differences such as expression of the pluripotency marker OCT4 and ability to become 9 different types of tissues.  Currently endometrial regenerative cells are being developed as a treatment for critical limb ischemia, an advanced form of peripheral artery disease, for which an IND has been filed.

In a recent paper (Han et al. Inhibition of intracranial glioma growth by endometrial regenerative cells.  Cell Cycle. 2009 Feb 30;8(4)) the ability of ERC to inhibit glioma growth was evaluated. 

The investigators found that intra-tumor administration of ERC into the C6 glioma model induce a profound inhibition of tumor growth.  What was more astonishing about this paper was that even administration of ERC intravenously induced a suppression of growth. 

Logically, one would expect increased tumor angiogenesis with administration of ERC.  In contrast this did not occur.  The authors reported suppression of CD34 positive neovasculature, as well as reduced microvessel densities.

Although the paper was careful not to propose unsubstantiated mechanisms, the authors included data demonstrating reduced CD133 positive glioma cells, which gently nudges the reader to consider the possibility of ERC suppressing tumor stem cell self renewal. 

If one follows John Dick's concept that the "tumor stem cell is a caricature of its non-malignant counterpart", then conceptually the tumor stem cell, like normal stem cells, would enter cell cycle in the presence of injury, or inflammation.  Maybe the antiinflammatory activities of ERC corresponded with suppression of tumor stem cell cycling.  If this is correct, then simple administration of antiinflammatories would have some effect on tumor stem cells.  This is an interesting area that may be worth further investigation. 

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