Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China.
Int J Mol Med. 2021 Feb;47(2):455-462. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4810. Epub 2020 Dec 4.
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and the second leading cause of cancer‑associated death in the world. The carcinogenesis and development of GC involves complicated steps and various factors, in which the tumor microenvironment serves a vital role. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells, are multipotent stromal cells, and have gained increasing attention due to their wound‑healing ability, as well as their tumor‑promoting potential. MSCs are essential components of the tumor microenvironment and serve important roles in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. The present review focuses on GC and discusses recent advances in understanding the effect of GC‑derived MSC‑like cells (GC‑MSCs) on tumor progression, chemoresistance and immune escape. Additionally, the mechanism underlying the tumor tropism of bone marrow‑derived MSCs and the malignant transition of these cells to GC‑MSCs are addressed. The potential of GC‑MSCs in the treatment of GC, such as for predicting prognosis and as therapeutic targets, is also discussed in association with their critical role in tumor progression. The information on the characteristics and functions of GC‑MSCs provided in the present review may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies against GC.
胃癌（GC）是最常见的恶性肿瘤之一，也是全球癌症相关死亡的第二大主要原因。GC 的发生和发展涉及复杂的步骤和各种因素，其中肿瘤微环境起着至关重要的作用。间充质干细胞（MSCs），也称为间充质基质细胞，是多能基质细胞，由于其具有伤口愈合能力以及促进肿瘤的潜力，因此越来越受到关注。MSCs 是肿瘤微环境的重要组成部分，在肿瘤的起始、进展和转移中发挥重要作用。本综述聚焦于 GC，并讨论了对 GC 衍生的 MSC 样细胞（GC-MSCs）对肿瘤进展、化疗耐药和免疫逃逸影响的最新认识。此外，还探讨了骨髓来源的 MSCs 对肿瘤的趋性以及这些细胞向 GC-MSCs 恶性转化的机制。还讨论了 GC-MSCs 在 GC 治疗中的潜力，例如预测预后和作为治疗靶点，以及它们在肿瘤进展中的关键作用。本综述中提供的关于 GC-MSCs 的特征和功能的信息可能会促进针对 GC 的新型治疗策略的发展。
