Bone marrow stem cells and bone marrow-derived cells have a role in the formation of vessels and stroma in Ewing's sarcoma. A new promise for therapy.

BOLONTRADE, MARCELA F.; KLEINERMAN, EUGENIE S.

Recent Research Developments in Cancer. Part I

Transworld Research Network

Lugar: Trivandrum, Kerala.; Año: 2004; p. 125 - 140

Stem cells are defined as undifferentiated, clonogenic, self-renewing cells able to generate one or more specialized cell types. It was believed that only embryonic stem (ES) cells were pluripotent, able to generate all cells of an organism.  By contrast, organ-specific, adult stem cells have been regarded as restricted in their differentiative potential, generating only the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. Recent findings however, suggest that stem cells in adults can reside in one tissue but also contribute to cell differentiation of another tissue type by being recruited from the general circulation into the target area. BM stem cells and circulating stem and progenitor cells with selective tropism may therefore prove to be invaluable tools to combat numerous different diseases.  For in cancer, the use of these cells may prove useful in specific gene delivery into the tumor site. In this chapter we will discuss postnatal stem cells, primarily focusing on their participation in vessel formation. We will clarify the differences between vasculogenesis and angiogenesis as processes that generate new blood vessels. Data from our laboratory using our Ewing´s sarcoma model will be presented that illustrate postnatal vasculogenesis. We will discuss this phenomenon reviewing the concept of stem cell plasticity. Finally we will analyze the therapeutic possibilities of the use of genetically engineered stem and progenitor cells as vehicles for gene delivery in different diseases, particularly tumor growth.