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Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer remain the leading causes of death worldwide, driving the demand for innovative therapies beyond conventional approaches. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a compelling alternative to direct cell therapy, offering improved availability, minimal immunogenicity, and excellent biocompatibility. This review comprehensively examines the therapeutic applications of various stem cell-derived EVs in treating CVD and cancer. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) demonstrate significant cardioprotective effects through anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and angiogenic mechanisms mediated by a diverse molecular cargo, including non-coding RNAs and growth factors. In cancer therapeutics, stem cell-derived EVs exhibit complex, context-dependent roles, with many demonstrating anti-tumor efficacy through tumor-suppressive molecules and immune modulation. Beyond MSC-EVs, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived EVs (iPSC-EVs) and other specialized populations offer unique therapeutic advantages. Despite promising preclinical evidence, clinical translation requires addressing standardization and quality control challenges. Stem cell-derived EVs represent a promising frontier in regenerative medicine with the potential to revolutionize CVD and cancer treatment paradigms.
Wu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.