Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Precision medicine has transformed oncology by tailoring treatments to the molecular and genetic characteristics of individual tumors. Stem cell-based strategies hold unique potential to complement these approaches by enabling regenerative support, targeted delivery of therapeutics, and novel models for drug screening. METHODS: This review synthesizes current evidence on the integration of stem cell biology into precision cancer therapy, highlighting advances in tumor profiling, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and genome editing that enable personalized interventions. RESULTS: Emerging applications include engineered stem cells for selective delivery of oncolytic agents, immune modulation through stem cell-derived platforms, and the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for modeling tumor heterogeneity. Advances in NGS are accelerating tumor-specific profiling, facilitating gene editing of stem cells, and refining patient selection for therapy. CHALLENGES: Despite progress, translational barriers remain, including risks of tumorigenicity, ethical concerns, high costs, immune rejection, and limited large-scale clinical validation. CONCLUSION: Stem cell-based precision oncology is a rapidly evolving field with significant promise. Future directions include integrating NGS-driven tumor profiling with engineered stem cells, optimizing safety through gene-editing technologies, and advancing clinical trials to establish efficacy. These efforts could reshape the landscape of individualized cancer care.
Authors: Hafsa Iqbal, Bibi Khadija
Institution: Quaid-i-Azam University
Language: English
Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415774624