Role of exosomes in the development, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. It is characterized by occult onset resulting in most patients being diagnosed at advanced stages and with poor prognosis. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles with a lipid bilayer envelope released by various cells under physiological and pathological conditions, which play an important role in the biological information transfer between cells. There is growing evidence that HCC cell-derived exosomes may contribute to the establishment of a favorable microenvironment that supports cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. These exosomes not only provide a versatile platform for diagnosis but also serve as a vehicle for drug delivery. In this paper, we review the role of exosomes involved in the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of HCC and describe their application in HCC diagnosis and treatment. We also discuss the prospects of exosome application in HCC and the research challenges.

Prospects of liquid biopsy in the prognosis and clinical management of gastrointestinal cancers

“…Exosomal proteins are gaining interest in the detection of plasma and serum circulation. The transfer of oncoproteins from intercellular exosomes helps in the progression of tumors ( Li W. et al, 2017 ), and thus, these exosomal proteins may carry tumor-specific biomarkers into circulation and can be used for diagnostic and prognostic applications ( Wang X. et al, 2022 ; Liu et al, 2023 ). These proteins reflect the cellular origin of exosomes and also contribute to the detection of cancer.…”