Targeting the pancreatic "tumor vessel interface": strategies based on engineered mesenchymal stem cell biology
Final Report Abstract
Our objective in this final funding period was to develop an expanded perspective, and an associated set of molecular tools based on the interaction of tumor vessel interface, in order to refine and enhance the targeting of engineered MSC for potential therapy of solid tumors and tumor metastases. Our work is ultimately directed toward the translation of MSC biology and engineering to the therapeutic treatment of solid tumors in patients. This anti-tumor approach using engineered MSC allows the transport of therapeutic suicide genes such as HSV-TK to tumors bypassing the need for myeloablation as well as bone marrow transplantation and is designed as an individualized cell-based anti-cancer therapy for each patient. By addressing predominantly the microenvironment rather than the tumor cell itself the possibility exist to reduce the development of therapy resistance that limits conventional therapy success today.
