¹University Children's Hospital, Ulm, Germany

Correspondence: Professor C Beltinger, University Children's Hospital, Eythstr. 24, Ulm 89075, Germany. E-mail: christian.beltinger@uniklinik-ulm.de

Received 14 February 2008; Accepted 16 February 2008; Published online 27 March 2008.

Abstract

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are promising for cancer therapy because they specifically target tumors. They have the capacity to home to, invade, migrate within and incorporate into tumor structures. They are easily expanded and can be armed with therapeutic payloads protected within the progenitor cells. Once in the tumor, armed EPCs can be triggered to induce cell death in surrounding tumor cells while being transiently protected from premature demise. In preclinical studies, therapeutic EPCs attenuated tumor growth and increased survival. Enhancing homing, self-protection and collateral tumor cell damage will increase the efficacy of EPCs for cancer gene therapy.