Exosome Transfer Between Pancreatic-cancer Cells Is Associated With Metastasis in a Nude-mouse Model

Abstract

Background/aim: Cancer-derived exosomes play an important role in metastasis. In the present study, we determined whether exosome transfer between cancer cells is associated with metastasis in a mouse model.

Materials and methods: AsPC-1 human pancreatic-cancer cells expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP) and AsPC-1 human pancreatic-cancer cells transduced by exosome-specific pCT-CD63-green fluorescent protein (GFP), were co-injected into the spleen of nude mice.

Results: Both pancreatic-cancer cell lines grew in the spleen and metastasized to the liver, peritoneum, and lungs, as shown by color-coded imaging. The ratio of GFP-expressing exosomes incorporated in RFP-labeled AsPC-1 cells was statistically-significantly higher in the liver, lung, and peritoneal metastases than in the spleen.

Conclusion: Exosome transfer between cancer cells is associated with metastasis. Exosome transfer may play a role in increasing the metastatic capability of the recipient cells.

Keywords: Pancreatic cancer; color-coded imaging; exosome transfer; green fluorescent protein; metastasis; nude-mouse; red fluorescent protein.