| Engineered Stem Cells as Precision Drug Delivery Vehicles: A Frontier in Targeted Cancer Therapy |
| Paper ID : 1224-IGA |
| Authors |
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Piruz Shadbash *1, Marziyeh Bahari Babadi2 1Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences 2Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim: Cancer is a disease that remains a leading cause of death globally. Current therapeutic approaches often face limitations such as limited efficacy and side effects, especially in advanced stages. This review explores the potential of using engineered stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), as targeted drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. Methods: We conducted a review using keywords such as " Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Drug Delivery Systems" including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were selected based on clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The chosen articles were evaluated by reviewing their titles, abstracts, methodologies, and results. The key findings from these studies are summarized in this review. Results: This mini-review explores the role of engineered stem cells in cancer therapy, emphasizing their potential as carriers for oncolytic viruses, cytokines, prodrug-converting enzymes, and nanoparticle-based chemotherapeutics. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges associated with stem cell therapy, including tumorigenicity, immune response, and safety concerns, while highlighting future directions for clinical translation. Conclusion: Engineered stem cells, such as MSCs and iPSCs, offer a promising new approach to cancer treatment by delivering therapies directly to tumors with fewer side effects. They have shown great potential in early studies, including oncolytic virus delivery and CAR-T cell generation. However, issues such as immune response, safety, and regulatory approvals still need to be resolved. With further advances in gene editing and immunotherapy, stem cell-based therapies could become an importment part of cancer care in the future. |
| Keywords |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Drug Delivery Systems |
| Status: Accepted |
