Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells and its exosomes in colorectal cancer: Paving way from preclinical towards clinical road

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. An increasing number of cases around the globe are raising concerns for life quality and survival. Various factors including genetic drivers have been extensively studied regarding the disease risk, progression, and metastasis. However, the signaling mechanisms haven't been studied extensively yet. Various therapeutic methods have been established in combating the disease, and mesenchymal stem cells have come up as a crucial cell-based therapeutic strategy. Mesenchymal stem cells have been regarded as potential targets in various cancer types due to their immune-modulatory functions. They can be isolated from many body tissues including bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord, and adipose tissue. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells have been reported to affect the expression of certain proteins associated with colorectal cancer. The current review highlights the potential of mesenchymal stem cells and their derived exosomes in treating cancer by causing cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Further, T-cell mediated modulation of exosomes helps reduce the cellular proliferation in cancer cells.