Exosomes are nano‑sized extracellular vesicles composed of lipid bilayers. They originate from different types of cells and contain various biological molecules. Exosomes can release their contents and exert their corresponding biological functions. In addition, exosomes play important roles in clinical applications. Exosomes and their contents play key roles in the development of breast cancer, including promoting tumorigenesis, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune escape, and treatment resistance. Exosomes can also be used as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. In this review, we propose that exosomes are important in clinical applications for breast cancer and their roles cannot be neglected.
Keywords: exosomes; exosomal contents; breast cancer; biomarker; tumor microenvironment.