Cell-biological mechanisms of amniotic membrane anticancer activity and the possibilities of its use in anticancer therapy

Abstract

Background: The primary role of amniotic membrane is to protect the foetus from drying out and to provide a suitable environment for its development. Understanding of the structure and function of amniotic membrane is important in terms of its use in clinical settings, especially in regenerative medicine. This paper describes favourable mechanical and biological properties of amniotic membrane for regenerative medicine uses and emphasizes its anti-cancer properties.

Conclusion: Studies on in vitro as well as on animal models demonstrate that amniotic membrane inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and induces their apoptosis. It also acts immunoinhibitory, and it inhibits the metabolic activity of cancer cells and angiogenesis. This work provides an overview of the latest knowledge about the anticancer role of amniotic membrane and evaluates the potential of the amniotic membrane use for anticancer therapy and regenerative medicine.