What is the Use of Stem Cell Technologies for Cancer Treatment?

Stem cells are long-lived and differentiate into specific specialized cells that perform important functions, such as nerve or heart cells. They also serve as tumour-suppressive cells, recruiting other cells to help them resist or destroy cancerous cells. By inhibiting the growth of stem cells, anti-cancer drugs can increase their effectiveness and reduce side effects.

Traditional treatments for cancer such as surgical resection, fractionated radiotherapy and chemotherapy are effective in reducing the size of tumours but often have off-target effects that cause normal cells to die and can result in drug resistance or recurrence. In contrast, stem cell therapies are able to target the stem cells that maintain and proliferate tumours. They can also be used as delivery vehicles to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to the tumour.

The most common type of stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are located in bone marrow and produce all blood cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are the most commonly used stem cells in stem cell transplantation therapy, which is an essential treatment for hematologic cancers such as leukemia and lymphomas following high-dose chemotherapy or radiation.

Scientists have also successfully reprogrammed regular adult cells into stem cells by using special genetic techniques. This process is called “cellular reprogramming” and may be useful in avoiding the ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells and their risk of being rejected by the immune system after transplantation.