Abstract
Exosomes are defined as a type of extracellular vesicle released when multivesicular bodies of the endocytic pathway fuse with the plasma membrane. They are characterized by their role in extracellular communication, partly due to their composition, and present the ability to recognize and interact with cells from the immune system, enabling an immune response. Their targeting capability and nanosized dimensions make them great candidates for cancer therapy. As chemotherapy is associated with cytotoxicity and multiple drug resistance, the use of exosomes targeting capabilities, able to deliver anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells, is a great approach to overcome these disadvantages. The objective is to assess treatment efficiency in reducing tumor cells, as well as overall safety and response by cancer carriers. So far, results show exosomes as a promising therapeutic strategy in the fight against cancer. This review summarizes the characteristics and composition of exosomes, as well as explaining in detail the involved parties in the origin of exosomes. Furthermore, some considerations about exosome application in immunotherapy are addressed. The main isolation and loading methods are described to give an insight into how exosomes can be obtained and manipulated. Finally, some therapeutic applications of exosomes in cancer therapy are described.
Highlights
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, despite significant therapeutic advancements and improved detection methods
This review aims to describe the composition of exosomes, as well as give insight into the underlying mechanism responsible for the origin of these vesicles
Many resistance mechanisms have been acknowledged, most of them still remain without a successful solution
Summary
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, despite significant therapeutic advancements and improved detection methods. There are several types of cancer, related to different types of cells, with different behaviors and responses to treatment, and various contributing factors, such as diet, lifestyle, inherited genes, infectious microorganisms, as well as exposure to radiation and carcinogenic substances [1,2]. Treatment fails in several situations where cancer cells show resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Two of the biggest threats to chemotherapy are related with multiple drug resistance and with treatment toxicity [3]. In this regard, therapies based in nanoparticles (NPs) are being investigated, focused on efficient drug delivery methods, as a way to reduce adverse effects and improve the chances of a successful treatment [4]
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