bims-exocan 2026-05-10 papers

Issue of 2026–05–10
three papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University

Front Immunol. 2026 ;17 1805988

Role of cancer-associated fibroblast-derived exosomes in pancreatic cancer: clinical therapeutic potential and targeting challenges.

Weibo Hong.

Pancreatic cancer (PC)'s lethality is determined by late diagnosis and treatment resistance. The tumor microenvironment (TME), driven by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), is a crucial contributor. Within the TME, multiple cell types, including cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells, produce exosomes (EXOs), which are nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate intercellular communication. Among these, CAF-derived EXOs (CAF-EXOs) conduct crucial interactions with cancer cells, conveying molecular cargo that promotes tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, metabolic reprogramming, and chemoresistance. Because CAF-EXOs provide a source of sensitive blood-based biomarkers for early detection and represent potential therapeutic targets whose disruption might overcome stromal-driven resistance, research on CAF-EXOs is crucial for addressing the fundamental shortcomings of current PC therapy. This narrative review synthesizes the critical significance of CAF-EXOs as master regulators of PC development and therapeutic resistance. We reveal how these EVs convey specialized molecular cargo, including proteins, lipids, and non-coding RNAs. By identifying CAF-EXOs as essential mediators of chemoresistance and stromal immunosuppression, we emphasize their dual potential as attractive liquid biopsy biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The study concludes with a critical examination of the translational landscape, reviewing new strategies to target exosomal biogenesis, uptake, or cargo, while also noting the enormous biological and technological challenges that must be overcome to achieve therapeutic relevance. Ultimately, altering the CAF-EXO communication axis provides a new avenue to overcome stromal-driven resistance and improve outcomes in PC.

Keywords: biomarkers; cancer-associated fibroblast-derived exosomes; clinical implications; exosomes; pancreatic cancer; target delivery

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1805988

Molecules. 2026 Apr 19. pii: 1339. [Epub ahead of print]31(8):

Diagnostic Potential of Exosomes in Colorectal Cancer: Current Advances and Future Perspectives.

Kinga Suska, Marcin Piotrowski, Damian Jacenik, Jakub Fichna.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide and is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage due to limitations of current screening methods. Although surgical resection is the standard treatment, conventional tissue biopsies are invasive and restrict real-time assessment of tumor dynamics. Liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising noninvasive approach enabling repeated analysis of tumor-derived components in body fluids. Among these, exosomes have gained considerable attention as potential diagnostic biomarkers in CRC. This review summarizes current evidence on exosome biogenesis, molecular composition, and their diagnostic relevance in colorectal cancer. We discuss exosomal nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids as biomarkers detectable in patient samples, as well as analytical platforms used for their isolation and characterization, including ultracentrifugation-based methods, size-exclusion chromatography, nanoparticle tracking analysis, electron microscopy, proteomics, lipidomics, and sequencing approaches. Accumulating data demonstrate that exosomal microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, proteins, and lipid signatures correlate with tumor progression, immune modulation, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Advances in microfluidic technologies, Raman/SERS spectroscopy, and AI-based data analysis are contributing to further improvements in diagnostic sensitivity and reproducibility. Despite their potential, the lack of standard isolation and validation protocols remains a major obstacle to clinical implementation, highlighting the need for large-scale multicenter studies before exosome biomarkers can be routinely used in CRC diagnostics.

Keywords: cancer diagnostics; colorectal cancer; exosomal biomarker; exosome; metabolomics; non-invasive biomarker

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081339

Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2026 ;29(3): 313-321

The role of exosomes in brain tumors: Mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapeutic prospects.

Haider Falih Shamikh Al-Saedi, Waleed Khalid Younis Al-Bahadli, Waleed Murih Hatab, Arash Abdolmaleki.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with metastases significantly impacting patient prognosis. Brain metastases (BM) and primary malignant gliomas, such as glioblastoma (GBM), are among the most aggressive forms, with survival rates often below 12 months. GBM alone accounts for 2.5% of cancer-related deaths globally and is a leading cause of mortality in young adults aged 15-34. One of the major challenges in treating brain tumors is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which limits the delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). Exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as promising candidates for overcoming these challenges due to their natural ability to transport bioactive molecules across biological barriers. These nanosized vesicles (30-150 nm) are actively involved in tumor progression, angiogenesis, immune modulation, and drug resistance. Recent studies have highlighted their potential as biomarkers for early cancer detection and as drug delivery vehicles capable of crossing the BBB. Despite their promise, challenges such as large-scale production, efficient cargo loading, and targeted delivery remain critical hurdles to clinical translation. This review explores the role of exosomes in brain malignancies, focusing on their involvement in tumor progression, potential utility as diagnostic biomarkers, and prospective therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Blood-brain barrier; Drug delivery systems; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Glioblastoma

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22038/ijbms.2025.88573.19183