bims-exocan Biomed News
on Exosomes roles in cancer
Issue of 2023–11–19
seven papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University



  1. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Nov 09. pii: S0753-3322(23)01651-7. [Epub ahead of print]169 115853
      Exosomes are nano-scale extracellular vesicles that are found widely in various biological fluids. As messengers, exosomes deliver characteristic biological information from donor cells, facilitating their accumulation and subsequent transfer of information to tumor immune cells. Immunotherapy is a cutting-edge strategy for cancer therapy, but it has not yet reached its full potential owing to severe side effects and limited efficacy. Exosomes possess antigens and immunostimulatory molecules and can serve as cell-free vaccines to induce antitumor immunity. In addition, given their stability, low immunogenicity, and targeting ability, exosomes represent ideal drug delivery systems in tumor immunotherapy by delivering cargoes, including non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs), membrane proteins, chemotherapeutic agents, and immune cell death inducers. Exosomes can also be engineered to precisely target tumor cells. However, as a rising star in tumor immunotherapy, exosomes are also impeded by some challenges, including the lack of uniform technical standards for their isolation and purification, the need to improve exosomal cargo loading for efficient exosome delivery, and the expansion of clinical trials, which are currently in their infancy. Long-term, multi-center, and large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the performance of exosomes in the future. Nonetheless, exosomes have demonstrated encouraging performance in tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the potential and challenges of exosomes in tumor immunotherapy, with the aim to shed light on exosomes as new-era tumor immunotherapy tools.
    Keywords:  Drug delivery system; Exosomes; Tumor immunotherapy; Tumor vaccine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115853
  2. Aging (Albany NY). 2023 Nov 16. 15
      Cancer microenvironment plays an important role in the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocarcinoma cancer cells (HCC). Exosomes from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a component of the cancer microenvironment. In this study, we reveal that miRNA-652-3P from BMSC-derived exosomes promotes proliferation and metastasis in HCC. The ability of cancer proliferation, migration and invasion can be evaluated after co-culture by CCK-8, wound healing and transwell assay. Isolated exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the biomarkers of the purified exosomes were showed in West-blotting (WB). MiR-652-3p was detected in the HepG2 and 7721 after co-culturing with exosome derived from BMSCs under different conditions. Target authentication was performed by a luciferase reporter assay to confirm the presumptive target of miR-652-3p. After overexpressing miR-652-3p, the mRNA and protein expression level of TNRC6A in HCC was examined by q-PCR and WB. Further, we observed greater miR-652-3p upregulation in hypoxic BMSCs-exosomes than in normal- exosomes. In addition, a miR-652-3p inhibitor attenuates the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells after co-culturing with BMSCs. Our data demonstrate that hypoxic BMSCs-derived exosomal miR-652-3p promotes proliferation in HCC cells by inhibiting TNRC6A. The BMSCs-derived exosomal miR-652-3p may help find patient-targeted therapies in hepatocarcinoma cancer.
    Keywords:  TNRC6A; exosome; hypoxic BMSCs; miR-652-3p
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.205025
  3. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Nov 06. pii: 5305. [Epub ahead of print]15(21):
      Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the cancers that is highly sensitive to specific non-invasive tumor biomarkers that facilitate early diagnosis. Exosome-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers for BLCA. In this study, we employed RNA-sequencing to compare the expression patterns of lncRNAs in urine exosomes from three BLCA patients and three healthy individuals. RMRP displayed the most significant differential expression. Elevated RMRP expression levels were observed in urinary and plasma exosomes from BLCA patients compared with those from healthy individuals. RMRP exhibited significant associations with certain BLCA patient clinicopathological features, including tumor stage, poor prognosis, and tumor grade. Combined diagnosis using RMRP in urine and plasma exosomes demonstrated a superior diagnostic performance with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RMRP was found to be related to BLCA tumor progression and the cell migration and invasion processes via the miR-206/G6PD axis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RMRP serves as an miR-206 sponge, as suggested by dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation. Our study suggests that the combined diagnosis of RMRP in urinary and plasma exosomes can serve as an excellent non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for BLCA patients. Additionally, targeting the RMRP/miR-206/G6PD axis holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for BLCA.
    Keywords:  G6PD; RMRP; bladder cancer; diagnostic biomarker; miR-206; tumor progression
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15215305
  4. Elife. 2023 Nov 15. pii: e86209. [Epub ahead of print]12
      Esophageal cancer (EC) is a fatal digestive disease with a poor prognosis and frequent lymphatic metastases. Nevertheless, reliable biomarkers for EC diagnosis are currently unavailable. Accordingly, we have performed a comparative proteomics analysis on cancer and paracancer tissue-derived exosomes from eight pairs of EC patients using label-free quantification proteomics profiling and have analyzed the differentially expressed proteins through bioinformatics. Furthermore, nano-flow cytometry (NanoFCM) was used to validate the candidate proteins from plasma-derived exosomes in 122 EC patients. Of the 803 differentially expressed proteins discovered in cancer and paracancer tissue-derived exosomes, 686 were up-regulated and 117 were down-regulated. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (CD54) was identified as an up-regulated candidate for further investigation, and its high expression in cancer tissues of EC patients was validated using immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blot analyses. In addition, plasma-derived exosome NanoFCM data from 122 EC patients concurred with our proteomic analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity values for CD54 were 0.702, 66.13%, and 71.31%, respectively, for EC diagnosis. Small interference (si)RNA was employed to silence the CD54 gene in EC cells. A series of assays, including cell counting kit-8, adhesion, wound healing, and Matrigel invasion, were performed to investigate EC viability, adhesive, migratory, and invasive abilities, respectively. The results showed that CD54 promoted EC proliferation, migration, and invasion. Collectively, tissue-derived exosomal proteomics strongly demonstrates that CD54 is a promising biomarker for EC diagnosis and a key molecule for EC development.
    Keywords:  CD54; biomarkers; cancer biology; diagnosis; esophageal cancer; exosomes; human; medicine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.86209
  5. J Cell Commun Signal. 2023 Nov 16.
      Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent, self-renewing stromal cells found in a variety of adult tissues. MSCs possess a remarkable ability to migrate towards tumor sites, known as homing. This homing process is mediated by various factors, including chemokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix components present in the tumor microenvironment. MSCs release extracellular vesicles known as exosomes (MSC-Exos), which have been suggested to serve a key role in mediating a wide variety of MSC activities. Through cell-cell communication, MSC-Exos have been shown to alter recipient cell phenotype or function and play as a novel cell-free alternative for MSC-based cell therapy. However, MSC recruitment to tumors allows for their interaction with cancer cells and subsequent regulation of tumor behavior. MSC-Exos act as tumor niche modulators via transferring exosomal contents, such as specific proteins or genetic materials, to the nearby cancer cells, leading to either promotion or suppression of tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and metastasis, depending on the specific microenvironmental cues and recipient cell characteristics. Consequently, there is still a debate about the precise relationship between tumor cells and MSC-Exos, and it is unclear how MSC-Exos impacts tumor cells. Although the dysregulation of miRNAs is caused by the progression of cancer, they also play a direct role in either promoting or inhibiting tumor growth as they act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors. The utilization of MSC-Exos may prove to be an effective method for restoring miRNA as a means of treating cancer. This review aimed to present the existing understanding of the impact that MSC-Exos could have on cancer. To begin with, we presented a brief explanation of exosomes, MSCs, and MSC-Exos. Following this, we delved into the impact of MSC-Exos on cancer growth, EMT, metastasis, angiogenesis, resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and modulation of the immune system. Opposing effects of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes on cancer cells.
    Keywords:  Cancer; Exosomes; Immunomodulation; Mesenchymal stem cells; Metastasis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12079-023-00794-3
  6. Cell Cycle. 2023 Nov 16. 1-18
      The development of chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle for cervical cancer (CC) patients. Exosome-mediated transfer of circular RNAs (circRNAs) was found to have relevance to the CC. This study is designed to explore the role and mechanism of exosomal circRNA synaptotagmin 15 (circSYT15) on cisplatin (DDP) resistance in CC. Cell proliferation ability and apoptosis rate were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. CircSYT15, microRNA-503-5p (miR-503-5p), Remodeling spacing factor 1 (RSF1) levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Exosomes were analyzed by a transmission electron microscope and nanoparticle tracking analysis. CD63, CD81, TSC101, Bcl-2, Bax, C-caspase 3, and RSF1 protein levels were examined by western blot assay. The binding between miR-503-5p and circSYT15 or RSF1 was predicted by circBank or Starbase and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP). The biological role of exosomal circSYT15 in DDP resistance of CC in vivo. CircSYT15 was upregulated in the DDP-resistant CC cells and exosomes isolated from DDP-resistant CC cells. CircSYT15 knockdown repressed the proliferation and drug resistance of CC and induced apoptosis in CC cells. Exosomes shuttled circSYT15 act as a sponge to affect RSF1 expression, thereby promoting proliferation and drug resistance and repressing apoptosis of sensitive CC cells. Exosomal circSYT15 boost DDP resistance of cervical cancer in vivo. Exosome-mediated transfer of circSYT15 enhanced DDP resistance in CC partly by targeting the miR-503-5p/RSF1 axis, providing a foundation for future clinical applications of CC drug resistance.
    Keywords:  CircSYT15; RSF1; cervical cancer; cisplatin; miR-503-5p
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15384101.2023.2281768
  7. Cancer Sci. 2023 Nov 16.
      Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as important components of the tumor microenvironment, can regulate intercellular communication and tumor development by secreting extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the role of CAF-derived EVs in ovarian cancer has not been fully elucidated. Here, using an EV-microRNA sequencing analysis, we reveal specific overexpression of microRNA (miR)-296-3p in activated CAF-derived EVs, which can be transferred to tumor cells to regulate the malignant phenotypes of ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-296-3p significantly promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance of ovarian cancer cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo, while its inhibition has the opposite effects. Further mechanistic studies reveal that miR-296-3p promotes ovarian cancer progression by directly targeting PTEN and SOCS6 and activating AKT and STAT3 signaling pathways. Importantly, increased expression of miR-296-3p encapsulated in plasma EVs is closely correlated with tumorigenesis and chemoresistance in patients with ovarian cancer. Our results highlight the cancer-promoting role of CAF-derived EVs carrying miR-296-3p in ovarian cancer progression for the first time, and suggest that miR-296-3p encapsulated in CAF-derived EVs could be a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
    Keywords:  cancer progression; cancer-associated fibroblast; extracellular vesicle; miR-296-3p; ovarian cancer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/cas.16014