Cancer

Mouse studies suggest mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived vesicles loaded with a CXCR3 inhibitor could help treat pancreatic cancer. The vesicles are derived via sonication from the membranes of tumor-targeting primary human bone marrow MSCs to maintain their tumor-targeting ability. In a xenograft mouse model of pancreatic cancer, IV-injected vesicles accumulated in greater numbers in the tumors of Gemzar gemcitabine-treated mice than in the tumors of vehicle-treated mice. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of pancreatic cancer, Gemzar plus vesicles loaded with a tool compound CXCR3 inhibitor decreased tumor growth and increased tumor cell apoptosis compared with Gemzar or the inhibitor-loaded vesicles alone. Next steps could include testing the CXCR3 inhibitor-loaded vesicles in xenograft models of Gemzar-resistant pancreatic cancer...