Exosomes: composition, biogenesis, and mechanisms in cancer metastasis and drug resistance

Ladan Mashouri,Fatemeh Molaei,Amir Reza Aref,Hassan Yousefi,Suresh K Alahari,Ali Mohammad Ahadi

doi:10.1186/s12943-019-0991-5

Abstract

Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) participate in formation and progression of different cancer processes, including tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and drug-resistance. Exosomes initiate or suppress various signaling pathways in the recipient cells via transmitting heterogeneous cargoes. In this review we discuss exosome biogenesis, exosome mediated metastasis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, tumor derived exosomes role in tumor microenvironment remodeling, and angiogenesis is reviewed. Also, exosome induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is highlighted. More importantly, we discuss extensively how exosomes regulate drug resistance in several cancers. Thus, understanding exosome biogenesis, their contents and the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that are responsible for metastasis and drug-resistance mediated by TDEs may help to devise novel therapeutic approaches for cancer progression particularly to overcome therapy-resistance and preventing metastasis as major factors of cancer mortality.

Highlights

Intercellular communication is crucial for cells to adapt to diverse intra- and extra-cellular alterations occurring in different processes such as embryonic development, response to injury, homeostasis, and other functions [1]
A plethora of evidence indicates that exosome-mediated factors can promote tumor initiation, metastasis, and therapy-resistance in cancer cells through cell-cell communication within the tumor microenvironment (TME) [3,4,5]
Concluding remarks In this review, we elaborated upon exosome biogenesis and the main mechanisms for exosome-mediated metastasis and chemoresistance

Summary

Introduction

Intercellular communication is crucial for cells to adapt to diverse intra- and extra-cellular alterations occurring in different processes such as embryonic development, response to injury, homeostasis, and other functions [1].

Results

Conclusion