# Stem Cell-based Platform for Targeted Enzyme/Prodrug Therapy of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2022 · $382,186

## Abstract

Project Summary: Ovarian cancer (OC) is associated with the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic
malignancies in the United States. The low rate of survival is mainly due to two factors: 1) the advanced stage
of the disease at diagnosis, and 2) the inadequate efficacy of available therapeutic options, especially for
recurrent metastatic disease. The standard-of-care for patients with primary OC includes debulking surgery
(removal of ovaries and visible intraperitoneal tumors) followed by chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs
(e.g., cisplatin) and paclitaxel (PTX). However, approximately 90% of patients after suboptimal resection and
70% of patients after optimal cytoreduction will experience relapse within 18-24 months. Unfortunately, there is
no effective standard-of-care for recurrent patients who return to the clinic with drug-resistant metastatic
disease. As a result, their survival rate is very low. The objective of this research is “to develop a non-surgical,
targeted, and clinically translatable stem cell-based platform that can overcome drug resistance in recurrent
and metastatic ovarian cancer”. The success of the developed stem cell-based platform will be measured by
not only demonstrating the eradication of metastasis and inhibition of relapse, but also providing long-term
survival benefits. To achieve this objective, we genetically engineered and isolated a unique adipose-derived
stem cell (ASC) clone that overexpresses secretory human carboxylesterase 2 for targeted enzyme/prodrug
therapy of cancer, and nanoluciferase for quantification of response to therapy and evaluation of cancer
relapse. Using bioluminescent imaging (BLI) complemented with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that the engineered ASCs migrate and localize at both ovarian tumor
stroma and necrotic regions. Our published data also show that the engineered ASCs are able to target and kill
the drug-resistant OC cells that are rich in cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), overexpress MDR-1/ABCG2 drug
efflux pumps, and have high ALDH enzyme activity. Statistical analyses of tumor burden and survival rates
showed that administration of the engineered ASCs in combination with the prodrug irinotecan provided
complete tumor response and survival benefits in 80% of treated mice. To transform this ASC-based
technology into a platform with a broad application in targeted therapy of recurrent OC, we will use epithelial
OC cells that are obtained from patients who have received various treatment modalities but have returned to
the clinic with drug-resistant disease. The biodistribution and tumor tropism of the engineered ASCs will be
determined by BLI, MRI, and immunohistochemistry. The tumor response to therapy, inhibition of cancer
relapse, and long-term survival benefits will be determined in immunocompromised mice. Tumor tissues from
non-responsive groups will be collected and characterized at molecular, cellular and genomic levels to
un...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10380155
- **Project number:** 5R01CA251438-02
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** Arash Hatefi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $382,186
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10380155

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10380155, Stem Cell-based Platform for Targeted Enzyme/Prodrug Therapy of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (5R01CA251438-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10380155. Licensed CC0.

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