A tale of exosomes and their implication in cancer

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2023 Jul;1878(4):188908. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188908. Epub 2023 May 10.

Abstract

Cancer is a cause of high deaths worldwide and also a huge burden for the health system. Cancer cells have unique properties such as a high rate of proliferation, self-renewal, metastasis, and treatment resistance, therefore, the development of novel diagnoses of cancers is a tedious task. Exosomes are secreted by virtually all cell types and have the ability to carry a multitude of biomolecules crucial for intercellular communication, hence, contributing a crucial part in the onset and spread of cancer. These exosomal components can be utilized in the development of markers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes for various cancers. This review emphasized primarily the following topics: exosomes structure and functions, isolation and characterization strategies of exosomes, the role of exosomal contents in cancer with a focus in particular on noncoding RNA and protein, exosomes, and the cancer microenvironment interactions, cancer stem cells, and tumor diagnosis and prognosis based on exosomes.

Keywords: Cancer Diagnosis; Exosomal miRNA; Exosomal proteins; Exosomes; Exosomes isolation and characterization; cancer pathophysiology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Communication
  • Exosomes* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding