Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
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Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) constitutes a common malignancy with limited therapeutic options in metastasized stages. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) home to tumours and may therefore serve as a novel therapeutic tool for intratumoral delivery of antineoplastic factors. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) which promises apoptosis induction preferentially in tumour cells represents such a factor. ⋯ Systemic TRAIL-MSC caused no toxicity in this model. (5) Wild-type MSC seemed to exert a tumour growth-supporting effect in mixed s.c. DLD-1 xenografts. These novel results support the idea that lentiviral TRAIL-transgenic human MSC may serve as vehicles for clinical tumour therapy but also highlight the need for further investigations to improve tumour integration of transgenic MSC and to clarify a potential tumour-supporting effect by MSC.