Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (23): 5022-5030.doi: 10.12307/2025.078

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Crossroads of colorectal cancer progression and suppression: efficacy and challenges of mesenchymal stem cell therapy interventions

Guo Zhao1, Zhuang Haoyan1, Shi Xuewen2   

  1. 1First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province, China; 2Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province China 
  • Received:2024-02-28 Accepted:2024-05-09 Online:2025-08-18 Published:2024-09-30
  • Contact: Shi Xuewen, MD, Chief physician, Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province China
  • About author:Guo Zhao, Master candidate, First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Development Plan Project of Shandong Province, No. 2019-0187 (to SXW); Qilu Traditional Chinese Medicine Advantage Specialist Cluster Construction Project, No. YWC2022ZKJQ0003 (to SXW)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Early treatment methods for colorectal cancer include endoscopy and surgical resection, but there are many postoperative complications. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for late-stage colorectal cancer, but chemotherapy can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction, bone marrow suppression, liver and kidney function damage, and other adverse reactions. As a result, most patients are not proactive and do not cooperate with treatment. 
OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanism of action, latest treatment progress, and current problems of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and provide a basis for future clinical application.  
METHODS: PubMed, CNKI, and WanFang databases were searched for relevant literature using the keywords of “mesenchymal stem cells, colorectal cancer, cancer stem cell, tumor microenvironment” in Chinese and English, respectively. Finally, 119 articles were included for analysis.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Mesenchymal stem cells have both promoting and inhibiting effects on colorectal cancer. (2) The tumor homing characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells enable them to migrate accurately to the tumor site and release drugs, which increases the safety and effectiveness of the treatment of colorectal cancer. (3) Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells can serve as good carriers and shows a good application prospect in the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer. (4) Using viral vectors, non-viral vectors, or other transfection tools, drugs with mature anti-tumor effects can be loaded into mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of colorectal cancer. (5) The combined use of mesenchymal stem cells and chemotherapy drugs can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and reduce the adverse reactions of chemotherapy drugs. (6) The mechanism by which mesenchymal stem cells promote the development of colorectal cancer is mainly related to the expression status of signal transduction and chemotactic factors in colorectal cancer cells and the transformation of mesenchymal stem cells into cancer-related fibroblasts. (7) Mesenchymal stem cells may have the characteristics of driving cancer stem cells, promoting tumor initiation and increasing tumor invasion. (8) There are still some unavoidable problems in the treatment of colorectal cancer with mesenchymal stem cells: lack of standardized treatment plans and efficacy evaluation, high treatment costs, preservation and transportation of mesenchymal stem cells, and the proportion of combined use of mesenchymal stem cells and chemotherapy drugs.

Key words: ">olorectal cancer, mesenchymal stem cell, cancer stem cell, tumor microenvironment, chemotherapy, exosome

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