Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a digestive system tumor that is highly malignant, with an increasing incidence rate, poor prognosis, and a low 5-year survival rate. The overwhelming majority of patients with PC are in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and have lost the opportunity for radical surgery. The efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for PC is very poor. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the mechanisms of PC development and new therapeutic targets. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that mediate the exchange of substances and information between cells. In recent years, exosomes have been shown to play a key role in the development and progression of PC and might be useful for both its diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews the composition and function of exosomes and their roles in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of PC.
Keywords: biomarkers; diagnosis; exosomes; pancreatic cancer; treatment.