Wide exploration of noninvasive tumor/cancer biomarkers has shed light on clinical diagnosis. However, many under-investigated biomarkers showed limited application potency due to low sensitivity and specificity, while extracellular vehicles (EVs) were gradually recognized as promising candidates. EVs are small vesicles transporting bioactive cargos between cells in multiple physiological processes and also in tumor/cancer pathogenesis. This review aimed to offer recent studies of EVs on structure, classification, physiological functions, as well as changes in tumor initiation and progression. Furthermore, we focused on advances of EVs and/or EV-related substances in cancer diagnosis, and summarized ongoing studies of promising candidates for future investigations.
Keywords: Extracellular vesicle; biomarker; cancer diagnosis; exosome; microvesicles.; tumor microenvironment.
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