Exosome: Emerging Biomarker for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly growing. The prompt diagnosis and treatment for cancer require early screening. There are numerous cancer therapies have been develop such as surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. These treatment, however, have the ability to kill healthy cells and cause severe side effects. Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles that are secreted by the dynamic, multistep endocytosis process. They transport a variety of functional molecules, including lipids, proteins, nucleic acids (DNA, messenger, and non-coding RNA), and metabolites that aid in intercellular communication. Exosomes have recently been shown to be effective diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers. Exosomes have generated a lot of interest in the field of cancer treatment because of these qualities particularly as a biological carrier for certain drugs, inhibitors, antibodies and microRNA. Since specific content within exosomes originate from their cells of origin, this property allows exosomes to serve as valuable biomarkers. This article provides a summary of recent advances in the study of exosomal biomarkers and their role in cancer. We will also discuss the potential use of exosomes as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or predictors for various cancer therapeutic strategies. We also provide a brief overview of exosomes formation and function.