Stem Cells in Neurocancerology: The Case of Teratocarcinoma and Glioblastoma | Chapter 9 | Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 8

 

Background: Neural stem cell research is a promising field when considering brain disease and glioblastoma therapy. Efficient strategies for glioblastoma treatment were established targeting oncoproteins or growth factors (i.e. IGF-I, AFP) present during embryonic and fetal development of nervous system tissues originating from neural stem cells.

 

Methodology and Results: In a preclinical experiment, the PCC4 stem cells (derived from teratocarcinoma), which give rise to neoplastic neural cells, were transfected in vitro with the anti-IGF-I vectors (antisense and triple helix approaches). This strategy completely hindered the synthesis of the IGF-I and converted the stem cells into immunogenic cells (expressing MHC-I and B7), inducing an in vivo anti-tumour effect. This strategy was successfully applied to glioblastoma therapy. The anti-IGF-I strategy was recently combined with nanotechnology. The application of nanotechnology in stem cell research is based on the use of nanoparticles (NP) for targeted therapeutics, including gene therapies. NP (i.e. theranostic iron oxide) and IGF-I target related signal transduction pathways that lead to cancer cell apoptosis. Other studies have demonstrated that NP loaded with chemotherapy selectively killed cancer stem cells while sparing normal cells.

 

Conclusion: Stem cell- and immunotherapies, including anti-IGF-I gene therapy combined with nanotechnology targeting glioblastoma, are in permanent progress.

 

Author(s) Details

Maryam Raja
Department of Biotechnology, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441 Isfahan, Iran.

Silvia J. Bueno
Faculty of Health Sciences, UNAB University, 681001 Floridablanca, Colombia.

 

Annabelle Trojan
CEDEA & ICGT (Center of Oncology Diagnostic and International Cancer Gene Therapy Foundation), 110010 Bogotá D.C., Colombia and INSERM UMR 1197, Cancer Center & University of Paris / Saclay, 94802 Villejuif, France. 

 

Gabriela Quintero

Faculty of Health Sciences, UNAB University, 681001 Floridablanca, Colombia and CEDEA & ICGT (Center of Oncology Diagnostic and International Cancer Gene Therapy Foundation), 110010 Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

 

Andres Christian
Hospital Bretonneau, University of Tours, 37000 Tours, France.

 

Hebert O. Siachoque
CEDEA & ICGT (Center of Oncology Diagnostic and International Cancer Gene Therapy Foundation), 110010 Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

 

Yu-Chun Lone
INSERM UMR 1197, Cancer Center & University of Paris / Saclay, 94802 Villejuif, France.

 

Alvaro Alvarez
Faculty of Medicine, University of Cartagena, 130001 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

 

Jerzy Trojan
CEDEA & ICGT (Center of Oncology Diagnostic and International Cancer Gene Therapy Foundation), 110010 Bogotá D.C., Colombia, INSERM UMR 1197, Cancer Center & University of Paris / Saclay, 94802 Villejuif, France and National Academy of Medicine - ANM, 75272 Paris, France.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v8/5843