Small extracellular vesicles in cancer

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are lipid-bilayer enclosed vesicles in submicron size that are released from cells. A variety of molecules, including proteins, DNA fragments, RNAs, lipids, and metabolites can be selectively encapsulated into EVs and delivered to nearby and distant recipient cells. In tumors, through such intercellular communication, EVs can regulate initiation, growth, metastasis and invasion of tumors. Recent studies have found that EVs exhibit specific expression patterns which mimic the parental cell, providing a fingerprint for early cancer diagnosis and prognosis as well as monitoring responses to treatment. Accordingly, various EV isolation and detection technologies have been developed for research and diagnostic purposes. Moreover, natural and engineered EVs have also been used as drug delivery nanocarriers, cancer vaccines, cell surface modulators, therapeutic agents and therapeutic targets. Overall, EVs are under intense investigation as they hold promise for pathophysiological and translational discoveries. This comprehensive review examines the latest EV research trends over the last five years, encompassing their roles in cancer pathophysiology, diagnostics and therapeutics. This review aims to examine the full spectrum of tumor-EV studies and provide a comprehensive foundation to enhance the field. The topics which are discussed and scrutinized in this review encompass isolation techniques and how these issues need to be overcome for EV-based diagnostics, EVs and their roles in cancer biology, biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring, EVs as vaccines, therapeutic targets, and EVs as drug delivery systems. We will also examine the challenges involved in EV research and promote a framework for catalyzing scientific discovery and innovation for tumor-EV-focused research.

Uptake of oxidative stress-mediated extracellular vesicles by vascular endothelial cells under low magnitude shear stress

“…The biodistribution and uptake of nanoparticles by cells can determine their therapeutic efficacy and toxicity in vivo [ [46] , [47] , [48] ] . In previous reports, the interaction of synthetic nanoparticles with cells and their distribution in the blood circulation system were well investigated in vitro cell experiments and some animal models [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Enlarged extracellular vesicles are a negative prognostic factor in patients undergoing TACE for primary or secondary liver cancer–a case series

“…Extracellular vesicles are classified into several subtypes, each with different mechanisms of biogenesis and potentially reflecting different physiological and/ or pathophysiological processes [ 8 ]. Just recently concentrations and sizes of EVs emerged as biomarkers in the context of inflammatory and malignant diseases [ 9 , 10 ]. As an example, alterations of total serum extracellular vesicle concentrations were found in HCC allowing to discriminate patients with early HCC from patients with liver cirrhosis only [ 11 , 12 ].…”

The basic characteristics of extracellular vesicles and their potential application in bone sarcomas

“…EVs are widely found in organisms, and their biological functions are increasingly recognized [90,91]. As a natural communication medium between cells, EVs are expected to be used to treat a variety of clinical diseases based on this feature [11]. In addition, due to their high bioavailability and low immunogenicity, they can be the best candidates for drugs and therapeutic molecular carriers [12,92].…”

“…EVs are highly heterogeneous, and EVs secreted by different cells have different composition characteristics and functions. EVs have been regarded as wastes of cellular metabolism from the beginning to the current biological functions [11]. In addition to their important role in signal communication between cells, EVs are also widely involved in cell apoptosis, tumor development, angiogenesis, and immune response [12,13].…”