The roles and implications of exosomes in sarcoma

Abstract

Better diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic options are still necessary for patients with sarcomas due to the current limitations of diagnosis and treatment. Exosomes are small extracellular membrane vesicles that are released by various cells and are found in most body fluids. Tumor-derived exosomes have been proven to mediate tumorigenesis, intercellular communication, microenvironment modulation, and metastasis in different cancers, including in sarcomas. Recently, exosomes have been considered as potential biomarkers for sarcoma diagnosis, prognosis, and possible targets for sarcoma therapy. Moreover, due to their specific cell-tropism and bioavailability, exosomes can also be engineered as vehicles for drug delivery. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the roles of tumor-derived exosomes in sarcoma and their potential clinical applications.

Multifaceted Role of the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) and Its Receptor (uPAR): Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Applications

“…Emerging evidence suggests that tumor cells secrete different types of extracellular vesicles that have pro-metastatic effects ( 137 , 138 ). Higher levels of uPA and PAI-1 have been detected in the extracellular vesicles of different tumor cells suggesting a possible involvement of the uPA axis in exosome-mediated tumorigenesis and metastasis ( 139 – 141 ). However, detailed studies are warranted in future to verify the phenomena.…”

Extracellular Vesicles in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Current State and Future Perspectives

“…These disadvantages come from the nature of ultracentrifugation given that minimal numbers of samples can be tested at a time, the high speeds at which samples have to be spun, and potential for contamination from proteins found in the sample. Ultracentrifugation has been labeled as the gold standard by nature of being the first technique used to isolate and characterize EVs, and it remains the most commonly used method for isolation [19,25,39]. A review by Witwer et al In 2013 points out the downsides of ultracentrifugation, such as how time-consuming it is and the potential for contamination.…”

Extracellular vesicles as mediators of the progression and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer and their potential clinical applications

“…Exosomes and microvesicles (MVs) are two main subtypes of EVs, with diameters of 30–120 nm and 120–1000 nm, respectively. Exosomes, which are typically composed of a lipid bilayer membrane surrounding a small cytosol lacking cellular organelles, were first described by Johnstone RM in 1987 during the in vitro culture of sheep reticulocytes [ 11 , 12 ]. Exosomes are usually cup/disk-shaped and originate from a late endosome following inward budding of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), whereas MVs are irregularly shaped and directly formed by cell membrane shedding [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Several methods, such as ultracentrifugation, affinity isolation, size exclusion chromatography and membrane filtration, have been applied to isolate EVs from conditioned cell culture medium and body fluids. But most published studies of EVs have employed ultracentrifugation, the “Gold Standard” for EV isolation [ 11 ]. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) has provided authoritative guidance for EV isolation and purification [ 39 ].…”