Communication in tiny packages: Exosomes as means of tumor-stroma communication

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2020Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on CancerAuthor(s): Juliane Daßler-Plenker, Victoria Küttner, Mikala EgebladAbstractTumor-derived exosomes are nano-sized vesicles acting as multi-signal devices influencing tumor growth at local and distant sites. Exosomes are derived from the endolysosomal compartment and can shuttle diverse biomolecules like nucleic acids (microRNAs, DNA fragments), lipids, proteins and even pharmacological compounds from a donor cell to recipient cells. The transfer of cargo to recipient cells enables tumor-derived exosomes to influence diverse cellular functions like proliferation, cell survival and migration in recipient cells highlighting tumor-derived exosomes as important players in the communication within the tumor microenvironment and at distant sites. In this review, we will discuss mechanisms associated with exosome biogenesis and cargo sorting. In addition, we highlight the communication of tumor-derived exosomes in the tumor microenvironment during different phases of tumor development with a main focus on angiogenesis, immune escape mechanisms, drug resistance, and metastasis.
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Reviews on Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research