Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membranous vesicles secreted from numerous cell types and have been found involved in cell-to-cell communication by transferring noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs. Emerging evidence shows that EV-associated ncRNAs play important roles in a wide range of diseases, particularly in cancer where they function through regulating protein expression of the pivotal genes that make contributions to tumorigenesis. Given their stability and abundance in serum, EV-associated ncRNAs can act as new diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for cancer. Herein, we review the properties of EV-associated ncRNAs, their functions, and potential significance in cancer.
Keywords: Cancer; Extracellular vesicles; Mechanism; Noncoding RNAs.