Chapter 16 - Role of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis

Abstract

The prevalence of liver malignancy mainly common primary liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very rapidly increasing throughout the globe, and the obesity and high calorie Western diet–mediated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which is commonly denoted as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming major causing factor for this type of cancer. Along with NAFLD conventionally known determining factors, including mainly hepatitis family viruses and consumption of excess or too much alcohol and various types of environmental factors mainly toxins such as aflatoxins, are still major potential causes of HCC. Recently, there are various types of genetically or epigenetically altered genes are also known to trigger and cause initiation and progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. Along with these oncogenes, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, there are many micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) components that are also known to have major role in the regulation of various hallmarks of HCC (initiation, development, progression, and metastasis). Exosomes or extracellular vesicles are playing a pivotal role in carrying these miRNAs, RISC components, and other DNA, RNA, protein markers from the host cells to the site of recipient cells. By carrying this function, exosomes have become major players in HCC progression and metastasis. In this chapter, we discussed recent advances and functional role of exosomes in HCC initiation, progression, and also in distant metastasis.