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Progress towards a Stem Cell Based Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Cady C., McAsey M., Li J.

The Stem Cell Research Laboratory at Bradley University has an active program in research in stem cell and regenerative medicine using various adult stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, adipose and, recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and incorporating nanofiber technologies to develop potential treatments for cancer, cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases. We are investigating the use of gene-directed cell based therapy using stem cells for treating ovarian cancer. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the gynecologic cancers and the fourth most common cancer in women. Although significant advances in chemotherapeutics have improved the 5-year survival rates for all stages of ovarian cancer the survival rate for metastatic ovarian cancer has not changed significantly over the last 20 to 30 years. Clearly new therapies must be developed to treat this devastating disease. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) are excellent candidates for cell-based therapies because they effectively target and persist in hard-to-reach tumor regions. BMSC are recruited to tissues following hypoxic stress or injury. BMSC may specifically target the most refractory of ovarian cancer cells, those residing within hypoxic tumor regions. Use of engineered, autologous stem cells has the potential to significantly alter the approach to treatment of ovarian cancer. This approach to stem cell gene therapy does not require bone marrow ablation, may reduce the required dose of cytotoxic therapies and may improve the sensitivity to radiotherapy for effective tumor ablation.