A brief review of exosomes and their roles in cancer

Abstract

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles of endocytic origin, which can contain DNA fragments, mRNAs, microRNAs and proteins. Exosomes transport these cargos from a donor cell to target cells, where they can play important roles. So the role of exosomes in cancer development has become the focus of much research. Here, we discuss different mechanisms associated with biogenesis, function and application of exosomes. We highlight the functional relevance of exosomes in cancer and their applications as novel cancer biomarkers and therapeutic approach. Recently, a large number of studies have reported that exosomes influence major tumor-related pathways, such as hypoxia-driven epithelial to mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and metastasis. So, understanding the molecular mechanism of their action would open a new avenue to cancer diagnosis and treatment.