Review article

Emerging role of exosomes in cancer progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling

Mahshid Deldar Abad PaskehDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranMaliheh EntezariDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranSepideh MirzaeiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IranAmirhossein ZabolianYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranHossein SalekiYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranMohamad Javad NaghdiYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranSina SabetYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranMohammad Amin KhoshbakhtYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranMehrdad HashemiDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranKiavash HushmandiDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranGautam SethiDepartment of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, SingaporeAli ZarrabiDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, 34396, Istanbul, TurkeyAlan Prem KumarDepartment of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, SingaporeShing Cheng TanUKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [email protected]Marios PapadakisDepartment of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten-Herdecke, University of Witten-Herdecke, Heusnerstrasse 40, 42283, Wuppertal, Germany. [email protected]Αθανάσιος ΑλεξίουMd Asiful IslamDepartment of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MalaysiaEbrahim MostafaviDepartment of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USAMilad AshrafizadehFaculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey. [email protected]

2022en

ABI

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the factors responsible for its progression need to be elucidated. Exosomes are structures with an average size of 100 nm that can transport proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. This review focuses on the role of exosomes in cancer progression and therapy. We discuss how exosomes are able to modulate components of the tumor microenvironment and influence proliferation and migration rates of cancer cells. We also highlight that, depending on their cargo, exosomes can suppress or promote tumor cell progression and can enhance or reduce cancer cell response to radio- and chemo-therapies. In addition, we describe how exosomes can trigger chronic inflammation and lead to immune evasion and tumor progression by focusing on their ability to transfer non-coding RNAs between cells and modulate other molecular signaling pathways such as PTEN and PI3K/Akt in cancer. Subsequently, we discuss the use of exosomes as carriers of anti-tumor agents and genetic tools to control cancer progression. We then discuss the role of tumor-derived exosomes in carcinogenesis. Finally, we devote a section to the study of exosomes as diagnostic and prognostic tools in clinical courses that is important for the treatment of cancer patients. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of exosomes in cancer therapy, focusing on their therapeutic value in cancer progression and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01305-4

Citations and references

Cited by 40 references

Metrics — AkademScholar