Mini-reviewTargeted antitumor therapy mediated by prodrug-activating mesenchymal stromal cells

•Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are suitable as tumor-targeted delivery vehicles.•MSCs can be engineered to express enzyme converting non-toxic to cytotoxic compound.•Bystander effect is achieved by MSC-directed enzyme/prodrug therapy.•Prodrug-activating MSCs exert potent antitumor and antimetastatic effect.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were introduced as tumor-targeted vehicles suitable for delivery of the gene-directed enzyme/prodrug therapy more than 10 years ago. Over these years key properties of tumor cells and MSCs, which are crucial for the treatment efficiency, were examined; and there are some critical issues to be considered for the maximum antitumor effect. Moreover, engineered MSCs expressing enzymes capable of activating non-toxic prodrugs achieved long-term curative effect even in metastatic and hard-to-treat tumor types in pre-clinical scenario(s). These gene-modified MSCs are termed prodrug-activating MSCs throughout the text and represent promising approach for further clinical application. This review summarizes major determinants to be considered for the application of the prodrug-activating MSCs in antitumor therapy in order to maximize therapeutic efficiency.