Cancer-derived extracellular vesicles: the ‘soil conditioner’ in breast cancer metastasis?

Abstract

It has been recognized that cancer-associated mortality is more of a result of the disrupted physiological functions in multiple organs following metastatic dissemination of cancer cells, rather than the presence and growth of the primary tumor. Despite advances in our understanding of the events leading to cancer initiation, growth, and acquisition of invasive properties, we are still unable to effectively treat metastatic disease. It is now being accepted that the secretion of extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes from cancer cells, has a profound impact on the initiation and propagation of metastatic breast cancer. These cancer-secreted vesicles differ from other means of cellular communication due to their capability of bulk delivery and organotropism. Here we provide an overview of the role of extracellular vesicles in breast cancer metastasis and discuss key areas that may facilitate our understanding of metastatic breast cancer to guide our efforts towards providing better therapies.

Role of the dynamic tumor microenvironment in controversies regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations

“…Tregs are regarded as a critical hurdle in antitumor immunity, and the transcriptional factor Foxp3 serves as a lineage specification factor for Tregs [69,70]. TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-35 secreted by Tregs in tumors can produce an immunosuppressive environment that actively attenuates and subverts the antitumor immune responses of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells [71][72][73][74].…”

“…Exosomes are small membrane vesicles that are secreted by cells and contain many molecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids and proteins [89]. Exosomes act as a signal carrier to mediate cell-to-cell communication and affect the sensitivity of tumor cells to drugs, which is associated with the occurrence of tumor metastasis [72,73,[90][91][92][93][94][95][96]. Tumor cell-derived exosomes can affect distant target cells through their intrinsic miRNAs, alter the local microenvironment, and form a pretransfer endometrium to exert remote regulatory functions [97].…”

Plant defensin PvD1 modulates the membrane composition of breast tumour-derived exosomes

“…Many studies report on the important role of cell-to-cell communication for the growth and development of tumours. 59,60 The crosstalk between cellular and non-cellular components of the TME is also a key factor in the tumour responsiveness to treatment. 9 In addition to hormones, growth factors and cellcell junctions, exosomes have emerged as mediators of intercellular communication.…”

Extracellular vesicles: how they interact with endothelium, potentially contributing to metastatic cancer cell implants

“…The complex relationship of EV and cancers is under investigation. These investigations point roles of EV in the metastatic process, cancer progression, drug-and radiotherapy-resistance and in cancer-related hypercoagulation [16,48,[52][53][54][81][82][83][84][85][86].…”