Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Their Role in Immune Cells and Immunotherapy

Abstract

Nowadays, tumor has been the serious threat to human health and life. To further explore the mechanism of tumor genesis and development is necessarily for developing the effective treatment strategy. Extracellular vesicles are the vesicles secreted by almost all types of cells, and they play an important part in intercellular communication by transporting their cargoes. Immune cells are the vital components of the human defense system, which defense against infection and tumor through cytotoxicity, immune surveillance, and clearance. However, via release tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, tumor could induce immune cells dysfunction to facilitate its proliferation and metastasis. Studies have shown that tumor-derived extracellular vesicles play dual role on immune cells by their specific cargoes. Here, we reviewed the effects of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles on immune cells in recent years and also summarized their research progress in the tumor immunotherapy and diagnosis.

Engineered tumor cell-derived vaccines against cancer: The art of combating poison with poison

“…Exosomes are EVs with a diameter of 30–150 nm composed of a lipid bilayer structure containing abundant proteins [ 130 ]. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) from several cancers (including that of the kidney, blood, breast, and skin) carry a variety of functional molecular cargoes from cell membranes and nuclear endosomes of primary tumor cells that can be transferred to recipient cells [ 131 , 132 ]. The abundant proteins on the exosome membrane have efficient cellular uptake and targeted homing capabilities so that they can bring the internal cargo to the tumor site and promote immune responses [ 133 ].…”

Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Mitochondrial Reprogramming in Cancer

“…Cancer cells are known to produce immunosuppressive EVs that contain bioactive molecules with immunomodulatory effects [167]. Recent reviews extensively cover the various mechanisms of TEV-mediated immune suppression [168,169]. However, those affecting mitochondrial function remained largely unaddressed.…”

Recent advances in biological membrane-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy

“…63,169,172 In particular, extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor cells can promote angiogenesis and coagulation, modulate the immune system, and remodel surrounding parenchymal tissue, acting as messengers in tumor progression and metastasis. 173,174 Due to the role of extracellular vesicles in cancer metastasis and recurrence, they have been proposed for use as important diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as therapeutic targets. [175][176][177] Extracellular vesicles can be divided into several types, such as exosomes, apoptotic bodies and bacterial outer membrane vesicles, based on their particle size distribution and biological properties.…”