Therapeutic Signature of Stem Cell Derivative Exosomes in Oral Cancer: A Scoping Review

Cureus. 2023 Jun 4;15(6):e39957. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39957. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Oral cancer poses a serious health challenge to the nations worldwide. India, among all the nations reported, has the largest number of oral cancer cases, which accounts for one-third of the entire population of oral cancer globally. As oral cancer is well-known for delayed diagnosis until an advanced stage, poor outcomes, and a lack of specific biomarkers for the disease and high-budget therapeutic alternatives. Stem cell derivative exosomes gained significant attention as therapeutic agents and diagnostic biomarkers in cancer biology. It's a type of extracellular vesicle, which are lipid-bilayer-enclosed vesicles of endosomal origin. They are nanosized membrane vesicles that are capable of self-renewal, unlimited proliferation, and multi-directional differential potential. Thus, they act salient in the occurrence and development of tumors. Exosomal micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are functionally related to the advancement of cancer, metastasis, and the aggressive nature of tumors with high recurrence rates. It has also been highlighted that exosomes have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers. A quick, easy, high-clarity, and confined rehabilitation method is the basic specification for large-scale usage of exosomes. The constitution of the composite transporters of exosomes is easily available by sampling biological fluids (liquid biopsies) from samples such as saliva. A liquid biopsy based on exosomes focuses on their probable usage in cancer patients' diagnosis and the determination of the outcome or course of the disease. This review explores the therapeutic prospect of stem cell-derived exosomes as intending to offer new ideas for clinical management and institute a new era of therapeutic agents for oral cancer.

Keywords: biogenesis of exosomes; cancer drug delivery and epithelial mesenchymal transition; exosomes; oral cancer; stem cell.

Publication types

  • Review