Tissue Eng Regen Med.  2019 Jun;16(3):213-223. 10.1007/s13770-019-00190-2.

Exosomes as Therapeutic Vehicles for Cancer

• Lim W
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2449233
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-019-00190-2

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Exosomes are membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles implicated in cell-cell communication. Exosomes contain proteins, mRNAs, non-coding RNAs (miRNAs and lncRNAs) and lipids that are derived from producing cells. These nano-sized vesicles are present in biofluids including blood, urine, saliva, amniotic fluid, semen and conditioned media of cultured cells.
METHODS
This review summarizes current progress on the strategies of development of diagnostic biomarkers and drug loading onto exosomes for overcoming cancer progression.
RESULTS
A number of studies indicate that the exosome appears to be a key player in tissue repair and regeneration of in a number of animal disease models. In addition, alterations of the molecular profiles in exosomes are known to be correlated with the disease progression including cancer, suggesting their usefulness in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Studies utilizing engineered exosomes either by chemical or biological methods have demonstrated promising results in a number of animal models with cancer.
CONCLUSION
Understanding the molecular and cellular properties of exosomes offer benefits for cancer diagnosis by liquid biopsy and for their application in therapeutic drug delivery systems. Studies have shown that genetic or molecular engineering of exosomes augmented their target specificity and anticancer activity with less toxicity. Thus, deeper understanding of exosome biology will facilitate their therapeutic potential as an innovative drug delivery system for cancer.

Keyword

Exosomes; Drug delivery; Cancer; Extracellular vesicles; Target specificity

MeSH Terms

Amniotic Fluid
Biology
Biomarkers
Biopsy
Cells, Cultured
Culture Media, Conditioned
Diagnosis
Disease Models, Animal
Disease Progression
Drug Delivery Systems
Exosomes*
Extracellular Vesicles
Female
Models, Animal
Prognosis
Regeneration
RNA, Messenger
RNA, Untranslated
Saliva
Semen
Sensitivity and Specificity
Biomarkers
Culture Media, Conditioned
RNA, Messenger
RNA, Untranslated