Abstract
Simple SummaryCell–cell communication is an important mechanism in biological processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), also referred to as exosomes, microvesicles, and prostasomes, are microvesicles secreted from a variety of cells. Importantly, EVs contribute to cancer malignancy mechanisms such as carcinogenesis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and escape from the immune system. As EVs are thought to be secreted into body fluids, they have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers for liquid biopsy. In addition, the characteristics of EVs make them suitable for use in drug delivery systems and novel cancer treatments. In this review, the potential of EVs as anti-cancer therapeutics is discussed.Cell–cell communication is an important mechanism in biological processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), also referred to as exosomes, microvesicles, and prostasomes, are microvesicles secreted by a variety of cells. EVs are nanometer-scale vesicles composed of a lipid bilayer and contain biological functional molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs, and proteins. In this review, “EVs” is used as a comprehensive term for vesicles that are secreted from cells. EV research has been developing over the last four decades. Many studies have suggested that EVs play a crucial role in cell–cell communication. Importantly, EVs contribute to cancer malignancy mechanisms such as carcinogenesis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and escape from the immune system. EVs derived from cancer cells and their microenvironments are diverse, change in nature depending on the condition. As EVs are thought to be secreted into body fluids, they have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers for liquid biopsy. In addition, cells can encapsulate functional molecules in EVs. Hence, the characteristics of EVs make them suitable for use in drug delivery systems and novel cancer treatments. In this review, the potential of EVs as anti-cancer therapeutics is discussed.
Highlights
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which go by exosomes, microvesicles, and prostasomes, are secreted from a variety of cells [1,2] (Table 1)
These results suggests that the uptake of EVs by lung adenocarcinoma increases proliferation and decreases apoptosis
Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are important for the survival and progression of cancer cells, which are activated by signals from cancer cells that are growing [138]
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which go by exosomes, microvesicles, and prostasomes, are secreted from a variety of cells [1,2] (Table 1). EVs are nanometer-scale vesicles composed of a lipid bilayer and contain biologically functional molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs, and proteins [3]. It has been reported that red blood cells secrete vesicles containing proteins and lipids during maturation [6,7,8]. The vesicles secreted from cells contain mRNA and miRNA, which can be transferred to other cells and be functional in them [13]. Vesicles secreted from cells were removed from the garbage bin and moved into the limelight as a new cell–cell communication tool. Until the establishment of the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) in 2011, researchers used different names for the vesicles secreted from cells. MiR-206 [112] miR-193a [67] miR-144-3p [113] miR-125b [114] mi-185 [115] miR-16-5p [116]
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