Extracellular Vesicles in the Development of Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid bilayer-delimited nanoparticles released from all types of cells examined thus far. Several groups of EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, have been identified according to their size and biogenesis. With extensive investigations on EVs over the last decade, it is now recognized that EVs play a pleiotropic role in various physiological processes as well as pathological conditions through mediating intercellular communication. Most notably, EVs have been shown to be involved in cancer initiation and progression and EV signaling in cancer are viewed as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, as membrane nanoparticles, EVs are natural products with some of them, such as tumor exosomes, possessing tumor homing propensity, thus leading to strategies utilizing EVs as drug carriers to effectively deliver cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarize recent reports on exploring EVs signaling as potential therapeutic targets in cancer as well as on developing EVs as therapeutic delivery carriers for cancer therapy. Findings from preclinical studies are primarily discussed, with early phase clinical trials reviewed. We hope to provide readers updated information on the development of EVs as cancer therapeutic targets or therapeutic carriers.

Recent Progress on Exosomes in RNA Virus Infection

“…Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles that are released from multiple types of cells [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The content, size, and membrane composition of EVs are highly heterogeneous and dynamic and are affected by the cellular source, state, and environmental conditions [ 4 ].…”

“…The content, size, and membrane composition of EVs are highly heterogeneous and dynamic and are affected by the cellular source, state, and environmental conditions [ 4 ]. In recent decades, several EVs, including microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, and exosomes, have been found to play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Exosomes were first identified by Harding et al in 1983 and confirmed by Johnstone et al in 1987 [ 5 , 6 ]. As reported, multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are formed by endosome budding in the cytoplasm [ 3 ], while exosomes are released into the extracellular fluids by fusion of MVBs with the cell surface, resulting in secretion [ 7 ]. The size of exosomes ranges from 30–120 nm, and exosomes contain a variety of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.…”

Study of Natural Longlife Juvenility and Tissue Regeneration in Caudate Amphibians and Potential Application of Resulting Data in Biomedicine

“…The use of cell-derived vesicles, a heterogeneous population of particles that may include exosomes, microvesicles, ectosomes, membrane particles, exosome-like vesicles, and apoptotic vesicles, to regulate cell differentiation plasticity, increase cell viability, wound healing, regeneration, and antitumor therapy is currently an actively developed field of research (reviews [ 112 , 113 ]). Much attention is paid to exosomes, which are 40–100 nm intraluminal vesicles containing proteins, RNAs, microRNAs, and lipids and are capable of stimulating cell rejuvenation and cell regeneration potential.…”

Expedition into Exosome Biology: A Perspective of Progress from Discovery to Therapeutic Development

“…Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a heterogenous population of membranous structures of varying sizes and cellular origin [ 1 ]. Their secretion into the extracellular milieu provides a means of mediating intercellular communication.…”