Organically derived exosomes as carriers of anticancer drugs and imaging agents for cancer treatment

Akhil Srivastava; Shipra Rathore; Anupama Munshi; Rajagopal Ramesh

doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.02.020

Organically derived exosomes as carriers of anticancer drugs and imaging agents for cancer treatment

Semin Cancer Biol. 2022 Nov;86(Pt 1):80-100. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.02.020. Epub 2022 Feb 19.

Authors

Akhil Srivastava¹, Shipra Rathore², Anupama Munshi³, Rajagopal Ramesh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
² Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
³ Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA. Electronic address: rajagopal-ramesh@ouhsc.edu.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), is the umbrella term used for different types of vesicles produced by the cells, among which exosomes form the largest group. Exosomes perform intercellular communication by carrying several biologics from donor or parental cells and delivering them to recipient cells. Their unique cargo-carrying capacity has recently been explored for use as delivery vehicles of anticancer drugs and imaging agents. Being naturally produced, exosomes have many advantages over synthetic lipid-based nanoparticles currently being used clinically to treat cancer and other diseases. The finding of the role of exosomes in human diseases has led to numerous preclinical and clinical studies exploring their use as an amenable drug delivery vehicle and a theranostic in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, there are certain limitations associated with exosomes, with the most important being the selection of the biological source for producing highly biocompatible exosomes on a large scale. This review article explores the various sources from which therapeutically viable exosomes can be isolated for use as drug carriers for cancer treatment. The methods of exosome isolation and the process of loading them with cancer therapeutics and imaging agents are also discussed in the follow-up sections. Finally, the article concludes with future directions for exosome-based applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Cancer; Drug delivery; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Theranostics.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
Drug Carriers / therapeutic use
Drug Delivery Systems
Exosomes*
Extracellular Vesicles*
Humans
Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

Drug Carriers
Antineoplastic Agents

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding