| abstract |
The invention relates to a genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and medical use thereof in the treatment of tumours, said MSC comprising one or more exogenous nucleic acid molecule(s), wherein said exogenous nucleic acid molecule(s) comprise a region encoding one or more immune response-stimulating or immune response-modulating cytokine(s) operably linked to a promoter or promoter/enhancer combination. The invention encompasses the use of said cells in modulating the tumour microenvironment in order to attract immune effector cells and facilitate their activation and/or adoption of a memory phenotype. One aspect of the invention relates to the use of said cells in anti-tumour treatment comprising the combined administration of said mesenchymal stem cells with anti-tumour immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, immune cells, for example T cells, such as T cells with artificial T cell receptors, for example a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-Ts) or exogenous T-Cell Receptor (TCR) transduced cells, NK cells or macrophages/monocytes, or a cancer vaccine. |