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Table 2 Dual role of MSC exosomes in the context of cancer therapy

From: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived exosomes in regenerative medicine and cancer; overview of development, challenges, and opportunities

Donor cells

Cell line/condition

Exosome content

Function

Pathway

Ref

Promoting effect

 BM-MSCs

MM

miR-15a

Enhanced MM cell proliferation (animal study)

n.a

[159]

 MSCs

BRCA cells

miR-222/223

Supported the survival and growth of cancer cells (in vitro study)

Promoted quiescence in a subset of cancer cells and confers drug resistance

[160]

 AT-MSCs

HUVECs

miR-125a

Promoted angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Repressed the expression of the angiogenic inhibitor delta-like 4 (DLL4)

[111]

 AT-MSCs

Breast cancer MCF7 cells

n.a

Promoted MCF7 migration (in vitro study)

Activating Wnt signaling pathway

[161]

 BM-MSCs

Osteosarcoma MG63 and gastric SGC7901 cells

n.a

Supported MG63 and SGC7901 cell growth (in vitro study)

Activating Hedgehog signaling pathway

[162]

 AT-MSCs

HMEC

c-KIT and SCF

Induced angiogenesis (animal study)

Promoted survival, migration, and angiogenesis

[140]

 MSCs

Gastric cancer

n.a

Stimulated the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells ex vivo (animal study)

Activation of the Akt pathway

[163]

 AT-MSCs

Glioblastoma U87MG cells line

n.a

Induced cell proliferation (in vitro study)

n.a

[164]

 GC-MSCs

Gastric cancer cells

miR-214, miR-221, and miR-222

Promoted tumor proliferation and migration (in vitro study)

Downregulating several tumor suppressor target genes

[165]

Inhibitory effect

 MSCs

Breast cancer cells

miR-379

Inhibition of angiogenesis, tumor amplification, and metastasis (in vitro study)

Regulation of COX-2 mRNA and protein

[166]

 UC-MSCs

 BM-MSCs

Glioblastoma U87MG cells

n.a

Decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of glioblastoma cells (in vitro study)

n.a

[164]

 MSCs

Gastric cancer

n.a

Induced drug resistance in gastric cancer cells (animal study)

Triggered the activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM-Ks) and Raf/MEK/ERK kinase cascade

[167]

 BM-MSCs

Glioma

miR-146b

Reduced glioma cell invasion, migration, viability, and expression of EGFR (animal study)

Decreased EGFR and inhibited NF-κB, as well as its upstream regulator TRAF6

[168]

 MSCs

Breast cancer

miR-16

Suppressed angiogenesis (animal study)

Downregulated VEGF expression in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

[169]

 WJ-MSCs

Burkitt’s lymphoma cells

miR-34a and let-7 family

Arrested cell division of lymphoma cells in the S phase and induced apoptosis by using oxidative stress pathways (in vitro study)

Alteration of antioxidant enzymes

[170]

 AT-MSCs

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

miR-122

Increased the sensitivity of HCC cells to chemotherapeutic agents and induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest (animal study)

Reduced expression of cyclin G1 (CCNG1 ) and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway

[171]

 BM-MSCs

Breast cancer

miR-23b

Induced dormant phenotypes (animal study)

Suppression of MARCKS gene

[172]

 MSCs

Breast cancer cells

miR-100

Suppressed angiogenesis (in vitro study)

Modulated the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling axis

[173]

 WJ-MSCs

Bladder cancer cells

n.a

Inhibited proliferative viability and induced apoptosis (in vitro study)

Downregulated phosphorylation of Akt and upregulated cleaved Caspase 3

[174]

 BM-MSCs

Oral cancer

miR-101-3p

Inhibited proliferation, invasion, migration, and tumor growth (animal study)

Downregulated type X collagen gene

[175]

 BM-MSCs

Leukemia THP-1 cells

miR-222-3p

Inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis (in vitro study)

Negatively regulating IRF2-INPP4B signaling

[176]

 AT-MSCs

Ovarian A2780 and SKOV-3 cancer cells

miRNAs

Inhibited the proliferation and growth (in vitro study)

Upregulated pro-apoptotic proteins, as well as downregulated the anti-apoptotic protein

[177]

  1. Note: BM bone marrow, AT adipose tissue, UC umbilical cord, WJ Wharton’s jelly, miRs microRNAs, GC-MSCs gastric cancer-derived MSCs, MM multiple myeloma, HMEC human microvascular endothelial cells, HUVECs human umbilical vein endothelial cells, MARCKS myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate, IRF2-INPP4B interferon-regulatory factor 2 -inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type-II, n.a not available