Title:Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Key Actors in Tumor Niche
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Sanaa EL Marsafy and Jerome Larghero
Affiliation:Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris. Hopital Paul Brousse. Laboratoire d’Hematologie Biologique. Villejuif, France.
Keywords:Cancer associated fibroblasts, cancer niche, cancer stem cells, cell therapy, endothelial- mesenchymal transition,
epithelial- mesenchymal transition, immune modulation, mesenchymal stem cells.
Abstract:Tumors grow in privileged microenvironment referred to as the cancer niche. This niche is
composed of cancer cells and various components including mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), fibroblasts,
network of microvasculature added to innate and primed immune cells. Additionally, it encloses
other elements such as the extracellular matrix (ECM), cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.
Crosstalk between cancer cells and different niche constituents is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. Herein, we focus
attention on the bidirectional relationship between MSC and cancer cells and its impact on tumor progression. Better
comprehension of these events within the tumor niche might be valuable for developing effective anti-tumor therapeutic
strategies.
