A facile and scalable in production non-viral gene engineered mesenchymal stem cells for effective suppression of temozolomide-resistant (TMZR) glioblastoma growth.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) serve as an attractive vehicle for cell-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (CDEPT) due to their unique tumour-nesting ability. Such approach holds high therapeutic potential for treating solid tumours including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a devastating disease with limited effective treatment options. Currently, it is a common practice in research and clinical manufacturing to use viruses to deliver therapeutic genes into MSCs.

Renal autotransplantation following long segment iatrogenic ureteric injury.

The authors describe a case of iatrogenic right ureteric injury post duodenectomy and right hemi-colectomy. Renal autotransplantation was chosen as the treatment for the upper ureteric injury. This was successfully performed and the renal function of the transplanted kidney was subsequently preserved.