Emerging innovations on exosome-based onco-therapeutics

Abstract

Exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles for intercellular communications, are gaining rapid momentum as a novel strategy for the diagnosis and therapeutics of a spectrum of diseases including cancers. Secreted by various cell sources, exosomes pertain numerous functionalities from their parental cells and have enhanced stability that enable them with many features favorable for clinical use and commercialization. This paper focuses on the possible roles of exosomes in cancer therapeutics and reviews current exosome-based innovations toward enhanced cancer management and challenges that limit their clinical translation. Importantly, this paper casts insights on how cold atmospheric plasma, an emerging anticancer strategy, may aid in innovations on exosome-based onco-therapeutics toward improved control over cancers.

NK cell-derived exosomes enhance the anti-tumor effects against ovarian cancer by delivering cisplatin and reactivating NK cell functions

“…Exosomes have natural stability, low immunogenicity and excellent tissue/cell penetration ( 22 ), and is expected to become an advanced platform for drug/gene delivery ( 12 ). Owing to their unique properties, exosomes are currently under evaluation as vehicles for the transport of tumor therapeutic drugs ( 12 ).…”

“…Exosomes have natural stability, low immunogenicity and excellent tissue/cell penetration ( 22 ), and is expected to become an advanced platform for drug/gene delivery ( 12 ). Owing to their unique properties, exosomes are currently under evaluation as vehicles for the transport of tumor therapeutic drugs ( 12 ). For example, intravenous administration of MSCs is often retained in the lung or liver, while MSC-exo can avoid this problem while still maintaining the therapeutic function of their originating cells ( 35 , 36 ).…”

“…Exosomes are nano-scale bilayer vesicles actively secreted by various cells and contain diverse biomolecules ( 10 ). Recently, it has been discovered that exosomes mediate near and long-distance cell-to-cell communication in both healthy and diseased cells, affecting all aspects of cell biology ( 11 , 12 ). Different cells exert cell-to-cell communication by releasing exosomes carrying different components, such as nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and metabolites ( 13 ).…”

“…These exosomes are taken up by the recipient cells and information is delivered through material exchange or release of contents ( 13 ). In recent years, the potential application of exosomes in anti-cancer therapy have attracted increasing attentions ( 12 ). Exosomes derived from NK cells (NK-Exo) encapsulate perforin, granzyme, microRNA (e.g., miR-186, miR-3607, etc.…”

Extracellular vesicles biogenesis, isolation, manipulation and genetic engineering for potential in vitro and in vivo therapeutics: An overview

“…Being released from almost all cell types and playing a dynamic role in intercellular communication, exosomes have recently been extensively investigated as novel immunotherapeutic agents with the ability to regulate various immune responses (Kugeratski and Kalluri, 2021;Dai et al, 2022;Dutta and Paul, 2022). Research has revealed that exosomes exhibit immunoregulatory or immunostimulatory effects through different pathways (Olejarz et al, 2020;Benjamin-Davalos et al, 2021;Kugeratski and Kalluri, 2021).…”