Anticancer Therapy Targeting Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural lipid nanoparticles secreted by most types of cells. In malignant cancer, EVs derived from cancer cells contribute to its progression and metastasis by facilitating tumor growth and invasion, interfering with anticancer immunity, and establishing premetastasis niches in distant organs. In recent years, multiple strategies targeting cancer-derived EVs have been proposed to improve cancer patient outcomes, including inhibiting EV generation, disrupting EVs during trafficking, and blocking EV uptake by recipient cells. Developments in EV engineering also show promising results in harnessing cancer-derived EVs as anticancer agents. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the origin and functions of cancer-derived EVs and review the recent progress in anticancer therapy targeting these EVs.

Identification and Validation of Immune Implication of R-Spondin 1 and an R-Spondin 1-Related Prognostic Signature in Esophagus Cancer

“…EVs derived from cancer cells promote tumor progression and metastasis. To improve outcomes in patients with cancer, researchers have proposed various strategies for targeting cancer-derived EVs, including inhibiting the production of EVs, destroying EVs during transport, and blocking the uptake of EVs by recipient cells [ 4 ]. In the treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, with the new adjuvant atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy, atezolizumab can lead to immune activation of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which promotes better patient prognosis [ 5 ].…”

Personalized Nanovaccines Enhance Lymph Node Accumulation and Reprogram the Tumor Microenvironment for Improved Photodynamic Immunotherapy

“…However, the immune response activated by exogenous antigens or adjuvants alone cannot overcome the heterogeneity of solid tumors . One potential solution is to use patient-derived autologous tumor lysate pulsed Dex, effectively loading full range of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). , In addition, photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated tumor ablation can be a neoadjuvant in situ for tumor vaccines. , However, PDT further exacerbated the limited oxygen depletion within the tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to tumor hypoxia. − If mitigation of tumor hypoxia can reprogram the TME, Fe 3 O 4 nanozyme possesses the potential to augment the immune efficacy of cancer vaccines. , The DCs vaccines commonly used in clinical practice are typically activated in vitro and have a limited ability to migrate to lymph nodes (LNs) compared to naturally developed DCs in vivo. , TAAs are also expressed in normal tissues, which results in low affinity of immune recognition and ultimately a lack of high specificity for tumors . The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) served as an exquisite nanocarrier specifically designed for the targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs to lymphatic endothelial cells expressing scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-B1), effectively transporting antigenic peptides and TAAs to DCs. − HDL is also capable of enhancing the penetration of photosensitizers into specific barrier structures of solid tumors, sensitizing PDT and eradicated deep tumors. , …”