HSV-TK Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exert Inhibitory Effect on Cervical Cancer Model

A growing area of research is focused on cancer therapy, and new therapeutic approaches are welcomed. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based gene therapy is a promising strategy in oncology. Intrinsic tropism and migration to tumor microenvironment with off lights are attractive features of this type of cell carrier. In this way, suicide genes have also found a good platform for better performance and have shown a stronger anti-tumor mechanism by riding on mesenchymal cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of intratumoral injected MSCs transduced with a lentivector expressing the HSV/TK in a mouse cervical cancer model. Following injection of MSCs transduced with lentivector carrying TK, MSCs alone, or PBS into the mice tumor, ganciclovir was administered intraperitoneally during 14 days, and tumor size, survival time, natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities were assessed. We demonstrated that the combination of suicide therapy and cell therapy leads to successful tumor inhibition. A significant reduction in tumor size was detected in the test group in comparison with controls. Also, potent antitumor NK and CTL activity were seen in the treatment group in comparison with controls. Our data demonstrated that the mesenchymal cells expressing TK had an inhibitory effect on the cervical cancer model.