Fig. 3

MSC-based HCC-targeted therapies. MSC-based HCC-targeted therapies primarily include genetically engineered MSCs and oncolytic virus-infected MSCs. MSCs engineered with cytokine genes, such as IFN-β, IFN-α2b, TRAIL and IL-12, inhibit HCC proliferation, growth, metastasis and induce apoptosis. MSCs packaging adenovirus expressing anti-CD3scfv can activate CTL and inhibit HCC. Using the NIS gene to modify MSCs provided a novel mechanism for evaluation of MSCs as gene delivery vehicles for tumor therapy and improved the effect of local radiotherapy. MSCs transfected with the suicide gene HSV-TK can transform the prodrug ganciclovir into a cytotoxic drug that kills hepatoma cells. MSCs engineered with PEDF, HNF4α and apoptin genes can inhibit angiogenesis, growth, metastasis and proliferation. Oncolytic viruses used to infect MSCs include measles virus and oncolytic adenovirus, and they presented obvious tumor inhibition in the HCC microenvironment