Anti-Cancer Role and Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles

Abstract

Cell–cell communication is an important mechanism in biological processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), also referred to as exosomes, microvesicles, and prostasomes, are microvesicles secreted by a variety of cells. EVs are nanometer-scale vesicles composed of a lipid bilayer and contain biological functional molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs, and proteins. In this review, “EVs” is used as a comprehensive term for vesicles that are secreted from cells. EV research has been developing over the last four decades. Many studies have suggested that EVs play a crucial role in cell–cell communication. Importantly, EVs contribute to cancer malignancy mechanisms such as carcinogenesis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and escape from the immune system. EVs derived from cancer cells and their microenvironments are diverse, change in nature depending on the condition. As EVs are thought to be secreted into body fluids, they have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers for liquid biopsy. In addition, cells can encapsulate functional molecules in EVs. Hence, the characteristics of EVs make them suitable for use in drug delivery systems and novel cancer treatments. In this review, the potential of EVs as anti-cancer therapeutics is discussed.

Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Propagation of Lung Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

“…These data also suggest that the suppression of EV release may potentially have an antifibrotic effect. In fact, EVs have been implicated in multiple other conditions including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases (46,47), increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of inhibitors of EV release (48). More specific to fibrosis, Liu et al demonstrated that inhibition of EV release by TGFβ-activated human kidney proximal tubule cells attenuated the activation of interstitial kidney fibroblasts in vitro (49).…”

Glycosylation state of vWF in circulating extracellular vesicles serves as a novel biomarker for predicting depression

“…Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are microscale vesicles composed of lipid bilayers released by various cell types, containing proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and metabolites (Tominaga, 2021). Since EVs are involved in intercellular signaling, as they are transported and function between host and recipient cells (Xu et al, 2016), EVs are valuable tools for studying cell-cell communication in biological processes, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurodegenerative disorder, leading to blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis disease (Wu et al, 2020; Delpech et al, 2019).…”

Combination of Tipifarnib and Sunitinib Overcomes Renal Cell Carcinoma Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors via Tumor-Derived Exosome and T Cell Modulation

“…These early endosomes later mature into multivesicular bodies which fuse with the cellular membrane allowing for the release of exosomes to the extracellular space. Microvesicles on the other hand are simply formed through membrane budding [ 10 , 11 ]. Our lab previously identified that tipifarnib has the ability to target exosome biogenesis, the exact mechanism is the topic of this study.…”