bims-exocan Biomed News
on Exosomes roles in cancer
Issue of 2025–08–17
six papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University
  1. The Cytotoxic and Immune-Regulatory Roles of CD8+T Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer: A Systematic Review.
  2. Adipose-Derived Exosomes: mediators of crosstalk between Adipose tissue and cancer.
  3. The 3D Language of Cancer: Communication via Extracellular Vesicles from Tumor Spheroids and Organoids.
  4. Long Non-Coding, Micro, and Circular RNAs in Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Pathways and Treatment Approaches.
  5. Exosomal LncRNA SCAMP1-AS1 enhances osteosarcoma malignancy by regulating the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway.
  6. Diverse Functions of Extracellular Vesicles in Ovarian Cancer.
  1. Cell Biol Int. 2025 Aug 11.
    The Cytotoxic and Immune-Regulatory Roles of CD8+T Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer: A Systematic Review.
    Manouchehr Fadaee, Niloufar Orooji, Masoud Lahouty, Danial Mahrooghi, Morteza Abdi, Golnaz Mobayen, Fatemeh Alizadeh, Atefe Alimoradi, Tohid Kazemi.
      The second most significant contributor to the global mortality rate resulting from non-communicable diseases is cancer. Cancer cells are recognized for their interactions with adjacent noncancerous cells, such as immune and stromal cells, within the tumor microenvironment, which play a crucial role in influencing tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance. T cell activation is a pivotal process that facilitates the immune system's ability to combat malignancies, characterized by a multi-step signaling cascade leading to T cell proliferation and differentiation. During this activation phase, T cells release a variety of extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, which serve as critical regulators of intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment. These vesicles contain bioactive molecules such as proteins, microRNAs, and immunomodulatory factors that influence tumor growth, immune evasion, and therapeutic responses. CD8+T cell-derived exosomes (CD8+T-Exos) have been shown to inhibit tumor metastasis by carrying microRNAs that downregulate tumor-promoting genes while also enhancing immune responses by activating CD8+T lymphocytes. By elucidating the diverse functions of CD8+T-Exos, this review highlights their potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents in cancer treatment.
    Keywords:  cancer immunotherapy; cell communication; immune cells exosome; tumor resistance
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/cbin.70069
  2. Cancer Biol Ther. 2025 Dec;26(1): 2547564
    Adipose-Derived Exosomes: mediators of crosstalk between Adipose tissue and cancer.
    Changjian Wang, Zhikun Zheng, Chuangyan Wu, Dan Zhang, Yangchenxi Wang, Sheng Zhang, Geng Wang, Rui Zhou.
      Adipose-derived exosomes (ADEs), a subtype of extracellular vesicles, are critical mediators of communication between adipose tissue and tumors, playing pivotal roles in cancer progression and therapeutic response. These nanoscale vesicles carry microRNAs, proteins, and lipids that influence tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and immune modulation. The dual functions of ADEs - both in promoting and suppressing tumorigenesis - are largely dependent on their cellular origin, molecular cargo, and the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have identified ADEs as potential diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and drug delivery platforms, offering promising avenues for precision oncology. However, significant challenges - such as biological heterogeneity, lack of standardization in production, concerns regarding efficacy and safety, and regulatory constraints - continue to hinder their clinical translation. This review aimed to explore the multifaceted roles of ADEs in cancer pathogenesis, their therapeutic potential, and current limitations, providing insights to guide future research and clinical applications.
    Keywords:  Adipose-derived exosomes; adipose tissue; cancer; exosome-based therapy; miRNA; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15384047.2025.2547564
  3. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jul 23. pii: 7104. [Epub ahead of print]26(15):
    The 3D Language of Cancer: Communication via Extracellular Vesicles from Tumor Spheroids and Organoids.
    Simona Campora, Alessandra Lo Cicero.
      Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key mediators of intercellular communication, gaining recognition as tumor biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets. As the study of EVs advances, it has become increasingly clear that the cellular context in which they are produced significantly influences their composition and function. Traditional two-dimensional in vitro models are being progressively replaced by more advanced three-dimensional systems, such as tumor spheroids and organoids. These 3D models are particularly valuable in cancer research, providing a more accurate representation of the complex cellular and molecular heterogeneity that characterizes tumors, better mimicking the in vivo microenvironment compared to standard monolayer cultures. This review explores the role of EVs derived from tumor spheroids and organoids in key oncogenic processes, including tumor growth, metastasis, and interactions within the tumor microenvironment. We highlight how EVs contribute to the spread of cancer cells, affecting surrounding tissues, and promote immune evasion, which poses significant challenges in cancer therapy.
    Keywords:  exosomes; extracellular vesicles; organoids; spheroids; tumor
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157104
  4. Reprod Sci. 2025 Aug 15.
    Long Non-Coding, Micro, and Circular RNAs in Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Pathways and Treatment Approaches.
    Meeral Gosia, Gaurav Doshi, Siddhi Parab, Angel Godad.
      Gynaecologic cancer is a major cause of death for women and the most well-known ovarian cancer (OC) has a high mortality rate. Given that the majority of ovarian cancer deaths are caused by metastatic tumors that have spread to nearby tissues, several biological processes, including angiogenesis and metastasis, have a role in the onset and course of these diseases. Numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown in recent studies to contribute to the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer by altering particular cellular pathways. Three forms of ncRNAs which are long non-coding RNAs, micro RNAs, and circular RNAs are the subjects of this review. miRNA is used as a potential biomarker such as miR-375 which is a serum exosome and also in therapeutics. lncRNA sponges with miRNA which sequesters and regulates tumor progression such as XIST miR-149-3p. circRNA targets proteins and regulates gene expression. This review provides an overview of the precise function of non-coding RNAs in the many pathways and molecular exchanges that contribute to the invasion and metastasis of malignancies. To increase the survival rate of OC patients, new approaches to ncRNA-targeted therapy are being utilised, including targeting lncRNAs and circRNAs and modulating the tumor microenvironment using exosomes.
    Keywords:  Non-coding RNA; Ovarian cancer; circRNA; lncRNA; miRNA
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-025-01948-x
  5. Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 12. 15(1): 29560
    Exosomal LncRNA SCAMP1-AS1 enhances osteosarcoma malignancy by regulating the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway.
    Yanxia Li, Xiuqi Zou, Xiaomin Feng, Jing Xia, Zhifeng Wu, Haili Ma.
      Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that facilitate communication among cells by exchanging signaling biomolecules with adjacent cells. Among the diverse signaling biomolecules, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be selectively packaged into exosomes to influence cancer onset and progression through various mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the role of exosomal lncRNA SCAMP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma (OS). The expression of SCAMP1-AS1 was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in OS samples, and its role in OS was investigated by performing Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU, and Transwell assays. The characterization of exosomes derived from OS cell lines was conducted by transmission electron microscopyand Western blotting of CD9 and CD81. The effects of exosomes and exosomal SCAMP1-AS1 on OS cells were also evaluated in a series of cell assays. Furthermore, key molecules in the liver kinase B1-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (LKB1-AMPK) signaling pathway were analyzed by through Western blotting. The results revealed high SCAMP1-AS1 expression in OS, and its silencing in OS cells led to a reduction in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The OS cell-derived-exosomes increased the malignant characteristics in the target OS cell lines. Notably, exosomes obtained from OS cells in which SCAMP1-AS1 was silenced effectively counteracted the tumor-promoting effects typically observed with OS-derived exosomes on cocultured target OS cells by activating the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that exosomal SCAMP1-AS1 serves as a tumor promoter in OS by regulating the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway.
    Keywords:  Exosomes; LKB1-AMPK pathway; LncRNA SCAMP1-AS1; Osteosarcoma
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15125-2
  6. JMA J. 2025 Jul 15. 8(3): 944-946
    Diverse Functions of Extracellular Vesicles in Ovarian Cancer.
    Akira Yokoi.
      Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play various roles in cancer progression, mediating intercellular signaling. EVs carry bioactive substances such as ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and proteins, each providing important functions in whole biological fields, not only in cancer. Particularly in clinical oncology, EVs have attracted much attention owing to their promising potential as new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Ovarian cancer is one of the major causes of gynecologic cancer deaths and is often asymptomatic in the early stages; therefore, biomarkers that enable early diagnosis are critical to improving patient survival. Ovarian cancer cells easily spread through the abdominal cavity rather than through the bloodstream, forming direct metastatic foci in organs such as peritoneal membranes or omentum. The disease is treated multimodally with surgery and chemotherapy, even in advanced stages, and a certain degree of response to treatment is observed. However, most relapsed cancer gradually acquired resistance to chemotherapies. We have investigated various EV molecules in ovarian cancer and shown their clinical utility. In addition, the heterogeneity of EVs has emerged as a recent topic, and we have developed and used novel techniques to understand them. Applying these findings to clinical practice, EV-based approaches have the potential to revolutionize ovarian cancer management, enabling early detection, personalized monitoring, and targeted therapy. Continued innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration will be key to realizing the full potential of EV translational research to improve outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer.
    Keywords:  exosome; extracellular vesicle; ovarian cancer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.31662/jmaj.2025-0086
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