A new treatment is anticipated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most refractory cancers: cell therapy using umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs).
This study aims to elucidate, at the molecular and cellular levels, the mechanisms by which UC-MSCs target HCC. In addition to their immunomodulatory action, UC-MSCs have attracted attention for their “homing capacity” to gather specifically at tumors and their “paracrine effect” of releasing antitumor substances via extracellular vesicles (EV). Through these actions, the findings suggest that UC-MSCs may suppress the proliferation of cancer cells, induce apoptosis (cell death), and further inhibit the angiogenesis that serves as a nutrient source for cancer.
This discovery provides foundational insights that may lead to the development of minimally invasive and effective novel cell therapies for HCC patients for whom existing treatments are difficult. As a major advance in the field of regenerative medicine, future clinical application is anticipated.
【Article information】
Journal: Tissue Cell (2026)
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2025.103200