Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1600023, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jun 23;21(12):4463. doi: 10.3390/ijms21124463.
The vast majority of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis of the primary tumor that develops years to decades after apparent cures. However, it is difficult to effectively prevent or treat cancer metastasis. Recent studies have shown that communication between cancer cells and surrounding cells enables cancer progression and metastasis. The comprehensive term "extracellular vesicles" (EVs) describes lipid bilayer vesicles that are secreted to outside cells; EVs are well-established mediators of cell-to-cell communication. EVs participate in cancer progression and metastasis by transferring bioactive molecules, such as proteins and RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), between cancer and various cells in local and distant microenvironments. Clinically, EVs functioning as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or even as anticancer drug-delivery vehicles have been emphasized as a result of their unique biological and pathophysiological characteristics. The potential therapeutic effects of EVs in cancer treatment are rapidly emerging and represent a new and important area of research. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of EVs and discusses their utility for the inhibition of cancer progression, including metastasis.
绝大多数癌症相关的死亡是由于原发肿瘤的转移，而转移通常发生在明显治愈后的数年至数十年。然而，目前难以有效预防或治疗癌症转移。最近的研究表明，癌细胞与周围细胞之间的通讯促进了癌症的进展和转移。综合性术语“细胞外囊泡”（EVs）描述了分泌到细胞外的双层脂囊泡；EVs 是细胞间通讯的成熟介质。EVs 通过转移生物活性分子（如蛋白质和 RNA，包括 microRNAs（miRNAs））在癌症和局部及远处微环境中的各种细胞之间参与癌症的进展和转移。临床上，由于其独特的生物学和病理生理学特性，EVs 作为诊断生物标志物、治疗靶点甚至作为抗癌药物递送载体的功能受到了重视。EVs 在癌症治疗中的潜在治疗效果正在迅速显现，代表了一个新的重要研究领域。本综述重点关注 EVs 的治疗潜力，并讨论了它们在抑制癌症进展（包括转移）方面的应用。
