Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for doxorubicin cardiomyopathy: hopes and fears

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2015 Jun 24;6(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s13287-015-0109-y.

Abstract

Chemotherapy has made an essential contribution to cancer treatment in recent decades despite its adverse effects. As cancer survivors have increased, concern about ex-patient lifespan has become more important too. Doxorubicin is an effective anti-neoplastic drug that produces a cardiotoxic effect. Cancer survivors who received doxorubicin became more vulnerable to cardiac disease than the normal population did. Many efforts have been made to prevent cardiac toxicity in patients with cancer. However, current therapies cannot guarantee permanent cardiac protection. One of their main limitations is that they do not promote myocardium regeneration. In this review, we summarize and discuss the promising use of mesenchymal stem cells for cardio-protection or cardio-regeneration therapies and consider their regenerative potential without leaving aside their controversial effects on tumor progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Cardiomyopathies / etiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / therapy*
  • Doxorubicin / toxicity
  • Heart / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Regeneration

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Doxorubicin