Open AccessResearch advances in the role of gastric cancer‑derived mesenchymal stem cells in tumor progression (Review)
Author(s) -
Jiaqi Shen,
Wei Zhu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.048
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1791-244X
pISSN - 1107-3756
DOI - 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4810
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , tumor progression , cancer research , tumor microenvironment , cancer , stromal cell , carcinogenesis , biology , cancer stem cell , oncogene , metastasis , cell cycle , immunology , medicine , tumor cells , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and the second leading cause of cancer‑associated death in the world. The carcinogenesis and development of GC involves complicated steps and various factors, in which the tumor microenvironment serves a vital role. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells, are multipotent stromal cells, and have gained increasing attention due to their wound‑healing ability, as well as their tumor‑promoting potential. MSCs are essential components of the tumor microenvironment and serve important roles in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. The present review focuses on GC and discusses recent advances in understanding the effect of GC‑derived MSC‑like cells (GC‑MSCs) on tumor progression, chemoresistance and immune escape. Additionally, the mechanism underlying the tumor tropism of bone marrow‑derived MSCs and the malignant transition of these cells to GC‑MSCs are addressed. The potential of GC‑MSCs in the treatment of GC, such as for predicting prognosis and as therapeutic targets, is also discussed in association with their critical role in tumor progression. The information on the characteristics and functions of GC‑MSCs provided in the present review may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies against GC.