bims-exocan 2025-07-13 papers

Issue of 2025–07–13
five papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University

J Transl Med. 2025 Jul 08. 23(1): 751

Tumor-derived exosomes and their application in cancer treatment.

Afsaneh Javdani-Mallak, Seyed Javad Mowla, Mona Alibolandi.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) are vesicles characterized by their nanoscale size, secreted through cancer cells to boost the intercellular communications of the tumor microenvironment. TDEs enclose a cocktail of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, RNA, and DNA, which can encourage angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis to enhance tumor progression. Researchers are now interested in tumor-derived exosomes as markers and potential novel vehicles for the delivery of therapeutics in cancer treatment since they exhibit different molecular profiles and biological functions.
METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were methodically explored for articles estimating the dual functions of TDEs and their potential applications as new therapeutic targets and drug delivery vehicles for the transportation of anti-cancer drugs and immune-modulating compounds.
RESULT: TDEs represent great promise in advancing cancer diagnostics and therapy through their portrayal in cell communication, tumor regulation, and immune modulation. They offer potential for noninvasive, targeted treatment and early detection. However, standardization, reproducibility, and immune interaction challenges must be addressed. Continued interdisciplinary research is essential to realize their clinical potential fully.
CONCLUSION: Advancements in exosome engineering denote auspicious alternatives to conventional cancer therapies, with benefits like reduced toxicity and enhanced targeting. Understanding the biology of TDEs implements the development of novel treatments and improves diagnostics, prognostics, and monitoring of cancer progression. Integrating TDE-based tools with personalized medicine credits the potential to transform cancer care by providing more effective and individualized therapies.

Keywords: Cancer; Engineering exosomes; Tumor cell-derived exosomes; Tumor microenvironment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06814-7

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jul 04. pii: S0141-8130(25)06321-4. [Epub ahead of print]320(Pt 1): 145766

Exosome-mediated communication in pancreatic cancer: From molecular crosstalk to clinical translation.

Mohammad Sameer Khan, Zia-Ul-Sabah, Shadma Wahab, Garima Gupta, Khang Wen Goh, Prashant Kesharwani.

Pancreatic cancer continues to be one of the most lethal cancers globally, with incidence rates closely mirroring mortality. This high fatality rate is largely due to late-stage diagnosis, when treatment options are limited. Efforts to reduce PC-related mortality have focused on enhancing early screening techniques and improving treatments for advanced-stage disease. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles released by cells that carry lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids to other cells, inducing phenotypic changes in the recipients. Tumor cells typically produce exosomes in greater quantities. Tumor-derived exosomes are now recognized as key contributors to the remodeling of the pancreatic cancer stroma, particularly in creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This has led to growing interest in their potential role as mediators of immunomodulatory effects for pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Researchers are currently exploring exosomes as nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response against tumors. The presented review examines recent updates on the role and mechanisms of exosomes in the biological functions of malignant tumor, highlighting their potential role in pancreatic cancer therapy, diagnostic imaging, and early detection biosensors. Finally, it examines clinical trials and explores the future prospects of exosomal therapies in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Keywords: Biomarker; Exosomes; Immunotherapy; Pancreatic cancer; Targeted delivery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.145766

Curr Top Med Chem. 2025 Jul 09.

Exosome-Mediated Strategies for Melanoma Eradication: A Comprehensive Review.

Lalit Kumar, Ritesh Rana, Isha Singh, Sumit Kumar, Vikas Aggarwal, Komal Komal, Vuluchala Jyothiraditya.

INTRODUCTION: Exosomes, which are vesicles that are naturally derived and contain a biomolecular payload, are promising vehicles for melanoma therapy because of their biocompatibility, targeting capabilities, and stability. This review emphasizes their capacity to circumvent the constraints of conventional treatments.
METHODS: We carried out a comprehensive search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2024 utilizing terms such as "exosomes," "melanoma," and "chemotherapy." Studies on exosome characterization or non-melanoma malignancies were excluded from the inclusion criteria, which centered on exosome-based therapeutics.
RESULTS: Drugs delivered via exosomes, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and chemotherapeutics, demonstrated enhanced tumor accumulation, achieving 2.5 times greater bioavailability and resulting in a tumor reduction of 60 to 90% when compared to their free counterparts. Surface modifications, such as cRGD peptides, have been shown to enhance targeting capabilities, whereas exosome-mediated photodynamic therapy has been effective in augmenting reactive oxygen species generation and promoting apoptosis.
DISCUSSION: Exosomes tackle significant challenges such as drug resistance and systemic toxicity; however, they encounter obstacles related to scalability and immunogenicity. Their dual function in tumor advancement and treatment highlights the necessity for standardized protocols.
CONCLUSION: Exosome-based therapies signify a groundbreaking advancement in the treatment of melanoma. Future endeavors should refine engineering methodologies, enhance production capabilities, and substantiate effectiveness through rigorous clinical trials.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Exosomes; Melanoma; Photodynamic therapy; Small interfering RNA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0115680266373170250624095758

Int Immunopharmacol. 2025 Jul 09. pii: S1567-5769(25)01160-9. [Epub ahead of print]162 115170

Engineered IFNγ-loaded exosomes reprogram macrophage polarization and suppress tumor cell proliferation in vitro.

Yun Chen, Zhuoling Du, Weiwei Jiang, Linghong Kong, Dan Huang, Changchun Zeng, Hanping Liu.

Macrophages are part of the immune system and play a complex role in the development of cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exhibit dynamic plasticity between pro-tumorigenic (M2) and anti-tumorigenic (M1) phenotypes, presenting a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. While pharmacological modulation of M2 to M1 repolarization shows therapeutic potential, current cytokine delivery strategies face critical challenges including non-specific macrophage clearance. To address these limitations, we developed an engineered exosome system (EXO-IFNγ) through efficient loading of interferon-γ (IFNγ) into THP-1 macrophage-derived exosomes. Functional investigations demonstrated that EXO-IFNγ effectively reprogrammed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived M2 macrophages toward the M1 phenotype, exhibiting significantly superior polarization-modulating capacity compared to free IFNγ. To elucidate the therapeutic implications of phenotypic conversion, the bioactivity of conditioned medium (CM) derived from repolarized M1 macrophages was evaluated. The conditioned medium from repolarized M1 macrophages demonstrated potent tumor-suppressive activity, effectively inhibiting tumor cell growth and migration. Notably, the engineered exosomal delivery system demonstrated unique sustained payload release properties, endowing EXO-IFNγ generated CM with prolonged bioactivity compared to the CM produced by using IFNγ alone. Thus, EXO-IFNγ is a new macrophage polarization strategy to achieve good tumor cell killing effect by combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Keywords: Engineered exosomes; Interferon-γ (IFNγ); Macrophage polarization

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2025.115170

BMC Cancer. 2025 Jul 08. 25(1): 1154

Extracellular Vesicles in cancer: from isolation and characterization to metastasis, drug resistance, and clinical applications.

Ancuta Jurj, Doru Paul, George A Calin.

Cancer progression, along with other hallmarks of cancer, is sustained through bidirectional cell-to-cell communication. This function is primarily facilitated by lipid-rich nanoparticles expelled into the extracellular matrix by stromal and/or malignant cells. These entities, known as extracellular vesicles, contain a vast repertoire of bioactive molecules and hold promise as potential biomarkers and nanovehicles for drug delivery. Intriguingly, the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the functions of extracellular vesicles remain poorly understood. In the present manuscript, we highlight the intracellular and intercellular journey of extracellular vesicles, from their inception to the present day, their implications in various hallmarks of cancer, and their clinical applications.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Cancer progression; Drug resistance; Extracellular vesicles

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14375-7