Exosomes: A New Pathway for Cancer Drug Resistance

Yunbin Zhong; Haibo Li; Peiwen Li; Yong Chen; Mengyao Zhang; Zhendong Yuan; Yufang Zhang; Zhijie Xu; Geng Luo; Yuan Fang; Xu Li

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.743556

Exosomes: A New Pathway for Cancer Drug Resistance

Front Oncol. 2021 Sep 24:11:743556. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.743556. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Yunbin Zhong¹, Haibo Li², Peiwen Li², Yong Chen³, Mengyao Zhang², Zhendong Yuan¹, Yufang Zhang⁴, Zhijie Xu⁵, Geng Luo¹, Yuan Fang^{2

6}, Xu Li²

Affiliations

¹ Hand, Foot Vascular Surgery, Tungwah Hospital to Sun Yet-sen University, Dongguan, China.
² Department of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Dermatology Department, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, China.
⁴ Anyang Tumor Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Anyang, China.
⁵ Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁶ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are secreted into body fluids by multiple cell types and are enriched in bioactive molecules, although their exact contents depend on the cells of origin. Studies have shown that exosomes in the tumor microenvironment affect tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance by mediating intercellular communication and the transport of specific molecules, although their exact mechanisms of action need to be investigated further. In this review, we have summarized current knowledge on the relationship between tumor drug resistance and exosomes, and have discussed the potential applications of exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Keywords: cancer; chemoresistance; drug resistance; exosomes; signal transmission; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review