Table 1 Isolation techniques and methods of characterisation used in a selection of studies

Karnoub et al., 2007 [26]

Bone marrow (hip)

Human

Histopaque density centrifugation, bFGF supplemented, adherent to plastic

CD105⁺, CD45⁻/GlyA⁻

Breast

Promoting

Lacerda et al., 2015 [37]

Bone marrow

Human

Purchased from EMD Millipore (Billerica, MA, USA) (Part #SCC034, Lot N61710996)

Markers unspecified. Osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation capacity.

Breast

Promoting

Ye et al., 2012 [38]

Bone marrow (iliac crest)

Human

Percoll gradient centrifugation, adherence to plastic

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD29⁺, CD166⁺, HLA-ABC⁺, CD34⁻, CD14⁻, CD45⁻ and HLA-DR⁻. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity

Prostate

Promoting

Lee et al., 2013 [39]

Adipose tissue

Human

Adherence to plastic

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD29⁺, CD73⁺, CD34⁻, CD45⁻ and CD31⁻

Prostate

Promoting

Sun et al., 2009 [44]

Umbilical cord

Human

Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, adherence to plastic

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD29⁺, CD73⁺, CD34⁻, CD45⁻ and HLA-DR⁻.

Breast

Suppressive

Sun et al., 2009 [44]

Adipose tissue (mammary fat)

Human

Adherence to plastic

Characterised in a previous study: CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD29⁺, CD34⁻, CD14⁻, CD45⁻, HLA-DR⁻and CD133⁻.

Breast

Suppressive

Otsu et al., 2009 [47]

Bone marrow

Rat and mouse

Adherence to plastic

CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD29⁺, CD59⁺, CD54⁺, CD11b⁻, CD45⁻

Melanoma

Suppressive when administered at a 3:1 ratio with ECs.

Spaeth et al., 2009 [61]

Bone marrow

Human

Adherence to plastic

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD146⁺, CD140b⁺, CD166⁺, CD31⁻, CD34⁻and CD45⁻.

Osteogenic, adipogenic and mineralised cell differentiation capacity

Transition to CAF following exposure to ovarian cancer ‘SKOV-3’ cells

Promoting following transition to CAF

Mishra et al., 2008 [70]

Bone marrow

Human

Ficoll gradient centrifugation, adherence to plastic

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, HLA-ABC⁺, Stro1⁺, CD11b⁻, CD45⁻ and HLA-DR⁻. Osteogenic, adipogenic and myogenic differentiation capacity

Transition to CAF following exposure to breast cancer ‘MDA-MB-231’ cells

Promoting following transition to CAF

Shangguan et al., 2012 [65]

Bone marrow

Human

Obtained from IH-supported MSC Distribution center in Texas A&M Health Science Center

CD105⁺, CD90⁺, CD44⁺, CD29⁺, CD49c⁺, CD49f⁺, CD59⁺, CD166⁺, CD34⁻, CD36⁻, CD117⁻ and CD45⁻. Osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation capacity

TGF-β dependent transition to CAF following exposure to breast cancer ‘MDA-MB-231’ cells

Promoting following transition to CAF