Intercellular Transfer of Cancer Drug Resistance Traits by Extracellular Vesicles

Diana Sousa; Raquel T Lima; M Helena Vasconcelos

doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2015.08.002

Intercellular Transfer of Cancer Drug Resistance Traits by Extracellular Vesicles

Trends Mol Med. 2015 Oct;21(10):595-608. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.08.002.

Authors

Diana Sousa¹, Raquel T Lima², M Helena Vasconcelos³

Affiliations

¹ i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, IPATIMUP, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
² i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, IPATIMUP, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
³ i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, IPATIMUP, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: hvasconcelos@ipatimup.pt.

PMID: 26432017
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.08.002

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized particles (100-1000 nm) enclosed by a phospholipid bilayer that have been described as important mediators of intercellular communication. The role of EVs in oncobiology has been extensively studied, including their contribution to the horizontal transfer of drug resistance from drug-resistant to drug-sensitive cancer cells. This review focuses on the EVs cargo responsible for this intercellular transfer of drug resistance; namely, drug-efflux pumps, miRNAs, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and other mediators. Additionally, the known molecular mechanisms and features of this transfer are discussed. This is an emerging area of research and we highlight topics that need to be further studied to fully understand and counteract the intercellular transfer of drug resistance mediated by EVs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Communication
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
Extracellular Vesicles*
Humans