Extracellular Vesicles Shedding Promotes Melanoma Growth in Response to Chemotherapy

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 9;9(1):14482. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50848-z.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as key players in intercellular communication. EVs can transfer biological macromolecules to recipient cells, modulating various physiological and pathological processes. It has been shown that tumor cells secrete large amounts of EVs that can be taken up by malignant and stromal cells, dictating tumor progression. In this study, we investigated whether EVs secreted by melanoma cells in response to chemotherapy modulate tumor response to alkylating drugs. Our findings showed that human and murine melanoma cells secrete more EVs after treatment with temozolomide and cisplatin. We observed that EVs shed by melanoma cells after temozolomide treatment modify macrophage phenotype by skewing macrophage activation towards the M2 phenotype through upregulation of M2-marker genes. Moreover, these EVs were able to favor melanoma re-growth in vivo, which was accompanied by an increase in Arginase 1 and IL10 gene expression levels by stromal cells and an increase in genes related to DNA repair, cell survival and stemness in tumor cells. Taken together, this study suggests that EVs shed by tumor cells in response to chemotherapy promote tumor repopulation and treatment failure through cellular reprogramming in melanoma cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology*
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / drug effects
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / pathology
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / physiology
  • Cellular Reprogramming / drug effects
  • Cellular Reprogramming / physiology
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Disease Progression
  • Extracellular Vesicles / drug effects*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / pathology
  • Extracellular Vesicles / physiology*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects
  • Macrophage Activation / physiology
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / physiopathology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Temozolomide / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Cisplatin
  • Temozolomide