Exosomal packaging of trans-activation response element (TAR) RNA by HIV-1 infected cells: a pro-malignancy message delivery to cancer cells.

Driven by the heterogeneous and complex nature of HIV-1 infection and tumors, the possibilities of viable cross-talk are facilitated by the intra-cellular and inter-cellular signaling regimens. There are evidences that support the clear role of exosomes containing TAR RNAs that are secreted by HIV-1 infected cells and these TAR RNA brings pro-growth and pro-survival effects upon cancer cells. Recently, the regulatory role of TAR RNAs in the intra-cellular signaling network is shown that augments cancer cells to achieve tremendous progression and malignancy. In this paper, author highlights the role of HIV-1 infected cells secreted exosomes containing TAR RNA in tumor hallmarks. Further, this paper provides future insights on new classes of cancer therapeutics centered on disrupting exosomes and TAR RNA.