bims-exocan 2025-02-23 papers

Issue of 2025–02–23
five papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University

J Pharm Anal. 2025 Feb;15(2): 101067

Exosomal circRNAs: Deciphering the novel drug resistance roles in cancer therapy.

Xi Li, Hanzhe Liu, Peiyu Xing, Tian Li, Yi Fang, Shuang Chen, Siyuan Dong.

Exosomal circular RNA (circRNAs) are pivotal in cancer biology, and tumor pathophysiology. These stable, non-coding RNAs encapsulated in exosomes participated in cancer progression, tumor growth, metastasis, drug sensitivity and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Their presence in bodily fluids positions them as potential non-invasive biomarkers, revealing the molecular dynamics of cancers. Research in exosomal circRNAs is reshaping our understanding of neoplastic intercellular communication. Exploiting the natural properties of exosomes for targeted drug delivery and disrupting circRNA-mediated pro-tumorigenic signaling can develop new treatment modalities. Therefore, ongoing exploration of exosomal circRNAs in cancer research is poised to revolutionize clinical management of cancer. This emerging field offers hope for significant breakthroughs in cancer care. This review underscores the critical role of exosomal circRNAs in cancer biology and drug resistance, highlighting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could transform the clinical management of cancer.

Keywords: Cancer biomarkers; Exosomal circRNAs; Tumor microenvironment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101067

Med Oncol. 2025 Feb 17. 42(3): 77

Exosomes and solid cancer therapy: where are we now?

Tomas Zemanek, Lubos Danisovic, Andreas Nicodemou.

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncology, offering new hope for patients with previously incurable cancers. However, solid tumors remain a significant challenge due to immune evasion, therapeutic resistance, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Exosomes, a specialized subset of extracellular vesicles, have emerged as promising tools in cancer therapy owing to their unique role in intercellular communication and immune modulation. These vesicles transport antigens, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and immune-modulatory cargo, positioning them as potential platforms for cancer vaccines, drug delivery systems, and combinatorial therapies. Advances in engineered exosomes have improved drug bioavailability, tumor targeting, and immune stimulation, showcasing their potential in personalized medicine. This review highlights their multifaceted role in the tumor microenvironment, and their mechanisms of action in solid cancer therapy. Additionally, we discuss emerging strategies to overcome clinical and technical hurdles, paving the way for novel and effective cancer treatments.

Keywords: Cancer; Cell therapy; Drug delivery system; Exosomes; Immunotherapy; Personalized medicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-025-02626-3

MedComm (2020). 2025 Mar;6(3): e70095

Exosomes: a double-edged sword in cancer immunotherapy.

Jiayi Chen, Siyuan Hu, Jiayi Liu, Hao Jiang, Simiao Wang, Zhaogang Yang.

Over the past few decades, immunotherapy has emerged as a powerful strategy to overcome the limitations of conventional cancer treatments. The use of extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, which carry cargoes capable of modulating the immune response, has been extensively explored as a potential therapeutic approach in cancer immunotherapy. Exosomes can deliver their cargo to target cells, thereby influencing their phenotype and immunomodulatory functions. They exhibit either immunosuppressive or immune-activating characteristics, depending on their internal contents. These exosomes originate from diverse cell sources, and their internal contents can vary, suggesting that there may be a delicate balance between immune suppression and stimulation when utilizing them for immunotherapy. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of exosomes in cancer progression is essential. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms driving exosome function and their impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME), highlighting the intricate balance between immune suppression and activation that must be navigated in exosome-based therapies. Additionally, it underscores the challenges and ongoing efforts to optimize exosome-based immunotherapies, thereby making a significant contribution to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research.

Keywords: exosome; immune stimulatory; immune suppressive; tumor

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70095

J Ovarian Res. 2025 Feb 15. 18(1): 28

Tumour-derived exosomal miR-205 promotes ovarian cancer cell progression through M2 macrophage polarization via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Liuqing He, Quan Chen, Xiaoying Wu.

BACKGROUND: Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immune cells in the tumour environment and are considered similar to M2 macrophages, which facilitate cancer progression. Exosomes, as important mediators of the cross-talk between tumour cells and tumour-associated macrophages, can facilitate the development and metastasis of ovarian cancer by mediating M2 macrophage polarization. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the communication between ovarian cancer (OC) cells and tumour-associated macrophages during OC progression remain unclear.
RESULTS: Here, we demonstrated that high expression of miR-205 was associated with M2 macrophage infiltration, which affected the prognosis of OC patients. Importantly, tumour-derived miR-205 could be transported from OC cells to macrophages via exosomes and promote cancer cell invasion and metastasis by inducing M2-like macrophage polarization. Animal experiments further confirmed that exosomal miR-205-induced M2 macrophages accelerated OC progression in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-205 downregulated PTEN, activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, which is critical for M2 polarization.
CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that exosomal miR-205 plays a pivotal role in macrophage polarization within the OC microenvironment, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for OC treatment. This study not only enhances our understanding of the interactions between tumour and immune cells but also opens new avenues for targeted therapies against exosomal miR-205 in ovarian cancer.

Keywords: Exosomes; Macrophage polarization; Ovarian cancer; PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway; miR-205

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-025-01616-3

BMC Cancer. 2025 Feb 19. 25(1): 295

Serum-derived exosomal miR-7977 combined with miR-451a as a potential biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Jia Chen, Xue Zhang, Guanyi Zhang, Fan Zhu, Weiwei Liu.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the potential of serum exosomal miRNAs as novel biomarkers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
METHODS: Serum exosomal miRNAs were screened and verified by microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in patients with PDAC and healthy controls. The correlation between the clinical characteristics of PDAC and candidate exosomal miRNAs was analyzed, and the diagnostic performance of the candidate biomarkers was evaluated.
RESULTS: Serum exosomal miR-7977 and miR-451a were significantly upregulated in PDAC patients compared with healthy controls, and the levels of miR-7977 and miR-451a in serum exosomes were closely associated with the clinical stage and metastasis of PDAC patients. The area under curve (AUC) values of serum exosomal miR-7977 and miR-451a for PDAC were 0.825 and 0.804 in the training set and 0.796 and 0.830 in the validation set, respectively. A biomarker panel consisting of these two miRNAs resulted in a diagnostic power with an AUC of 0.901 in the training set and 0.918 in the validation set.
CONCLUSIONS: Serum exosomal miR-7977 and miR-451a might be diagnostic biomarkers for PDAC. These two miRNAs, when combined, exhibit optimal diagnostic performance.

Keywords: Biomarker; Exosomal; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; miR-451a; miR-7977

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13659-2