Cancer

"Cancer, Volume 8" in the "Stem Cell Innovation in Health and Disease" series explores the rapidly evolving role of stem cells in cancer treatment. As cancer continues to impose a heavy global health burden, stem cell therapies are being recognized for their regenerative potential and ability to enhance recovery following aggressive therapies. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is already a standard, FDA-approved treatment for hematologic cancers such as leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma. These cells help regenerate healthy blood cells post-treatment. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs) are showing promise in preclinical models as therapeutic carriers, capable of homing to tumor sites and delivering anti-cancer agents such as nanoparticles, siRNAs, and small-molecule drugs. Recent clinical advancements include differentiation therapy, where stem cells are used to induce cancer cells to become non-cancerous. Two completed phase I clinical trials have demonstrated innovative applications: one using NSCs to convert a prodrug into a toxic compound within tumors, and another using MSCs engineered with viral enzymes to activate cytotoxic drugs directly at the tumor site. MSCs have also helped reduce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a major complication of stem cell transplants. This volume is divided into two main sections: understanding stem cell roles in cancer biology, and translating stem cell innovations into clinical practice. It features cutting-edge research, including organoid models, genetic editing, and iPSC technologies. Together, these insights offer a timely review of the field's progress and its real-world potential to reshape cancer therapy.