Exosomes and cancer: From oncogenic roles to therapeutic applications

Abstract

Exosomes belong to extracellular vehicles that were produced and secreted from most eukaryotic cells and are involved in cell‐to‐cell communications. They are an effective delivery system for biological compounds such as mRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), proteins, lipids, saccharides, and other physiological compounds to target cells. In this way, they could influence on cellular pathways and mediate their physiological behaviors including cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, differentiation, and so on. Many research studies focused on their role in cancers and also on potentially therapeutic and biomarker applications. In the current study, we reviewed the exosomes' effects on cancer progression based on their cargoes including miRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, DNAs, mRNAs, proteins, and lipids. Moreover, their therapeutic roles in cancer were considered. In this regard, we have given a brief overview of challenges and obstacles in using exosomes as therapeutic agents.

Targeting IL-3Rα on tumor-derived endothelial cells blunts metastatic spread of triple-negative breast cancer via extracellular vesicle reprogramming

“…EVs derived from different TME components, including TEC, influence key aspects of cancer growth/progression, and have recently been recognized as being of great importance for tumor targeting 44 . The goal of this study was to investigate whether IL-3Rα blockade on TEC impacts tumor progression via EVs.…”

Exosomal microRNAs derived from mesenchymal stem cells: cell-to-cell messages

“…Several different molecules and proteins are involved in exosome production and secretion [10][11][12]. Much evidence exists for the important role of these vesicles in intercellular communications and their involvement with both pathological and physiological conditions [13,14]. Exosomes have also been implicated in intracellular communication, angiogenesis, immune system modulation and metastasis progression in cancer [15][16][17][18].…”

“…Much evidence exists for the important role of these vesicles in intercellular communications and their involvement with both pathological and physiological conditions [13,14]. Exosomes have also been implicated in intracellular communication, angiogenesis, immune system modulation and metastasis progression in cancer [15][16][17][18]. The techniques used to isolate and enrich exosomes from biological samples include precipitationultracentrifugation and ultracentrifugation followed by differential gradient centrifugation [6,[19][20][21].…”

Tiny Actors in the Big Cellular World: Extracellular Vesicles Playing Critical Roles in Cancer

“…In recent years, accumulated knowledge of characteristics and cargos of EVs has suggested that these structures could serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnostic/prognosis, as well as therapeutic agents for treatment of various pathologies [ 200 ]. The emergence of EVs in cancer therapy serves as a valuable nanotechnology to overcome major worldwide cancer management problems [ 201 ]. Currently, there are many studies recommending use of EVs as delivery vectors for treatment of various cancer, following manipulation and engineering of these EVs to carry various molecules useful as therapeutic agents ( Figure 4 ) [ 61 , 202 , 203 ].…”