bims-exocan 2026-05-24 papers

Issue of 2026–05–24
three papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University

Discov Oncol. 2026 May 18.

The updated role of exosomes in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Xinlong Huang, Yafei Huang, Xiangcong Wei, Ya Xu.

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by cells via endosomal pathways. They mediate intercellular communication by transporting bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. During tumorigenesis, exosomes critically participate in multiple oncogenic processes, including metastatic dissemination, immune evasion, tumor microenvironment remodeling, angiogenesis, and the development of chemoresistance. Comprehensive characterization and molecular profiling of vesicular surface epitopes are essential for tracing their origins. These membrane-bound biomarkers not only facilitate precise vesicle classification but also enable the selective enrichment of tissue-specific molecular signatures that are crucial for targeted therapeutic applications. Accumulating evidence indicates that tumor-derived exosomes have emerged as promising diagnostic biomarkers with exceptional specificity, while their intrinsic biocompatibility and cargo-loading capacity confer transformative potential for next-generation drug delivery platforms. This review critically examines exosome roles in tumor biology. It highlights clinical applications in oncology. We focus on exosome biomarkers in liquid biopsy, engineered exosomes for drug delivery, and pharmacological or genetic strategies targeting exosome biogenesis.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Drug delivery; Exosomes; Therapy; Tumor

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-026-05193-9

Mol Biol Rep. 2026 May 21. pii: 791. [Epub ahead of print]53(1):

The role of targeted exosomes in improving drug delivery in breast cancer: challenges and prospects.

Mehrad Zibaei Moghadam, Mahdiyeh Shafieesabet, Nazanin Jamshidi, Negar Jamshidi.

Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadly types of cancer in women, and its treatment is associated with several challenges, including drug resistance, drug side effects, and inadequate targeting of cancer cells. In recent years, the use of exosomes as natural drug carriers has attracted much attention due to their properties such as high biocompatibility, ability to cross biological barriers, and ability to target specific cells. Targeted exosomes, by surface modification and loading of chemotherapeutic drugs, regulatory RNAs, and other therapeutic molecules, enable more effective drug delivery and reduce systemic toxicity. This review article will examine the role of targeted exosomes in improving drug delivery in breast cancer in a narrative manner. First, the structure and biological properties of exosomes and different drug loading methods are described. Then, the preclinical and clinical applications of exosomes in the delivery of various drugs and their effects on cancer cells and cancer stem cells are reviewed. The main challenges in the use of exosomes are also discussed, including standardization of isolation and detection methods, precise control of drug loading, unfavorable stability and biodistribution, and issues related to mass production and safety. Finally, the future prospects of this field are discussed, focusing on novel exosome engineering technologies, combination with immunotherapies, and development of more precise targeting methods. This review shows that targeted exosomes have great potential to improve the efficacy of breast cancer therapies, but further research and resolution of technical and clinical challenges are required for widespread clinical entry.

Keywords: Bioengineering of exosomes; Breast cancer; Drug delivery; Drug resistance; Nanodrug delivery; Targeted exosomes

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-11635-y

Front Immunol. 2026 ;17 1806864

MicroRNA-based integrated diagnosis and therapy for GBM: current status and advances.

Ye Chen, Huiyi Liu, Peipei Yuan, Yongqi Li, Changqiong Xu, Ran Li, Jibing Chen, Fasheng Wu.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive type of central nervous system cancer, characterized by high rates of recurrence and mortality. As the highest-grade glioma, patient prognosis remains poor despite multimodal interventions including surgery, chemotherapy, and postoperative radiotherapy. Therefore, developing novel therapeutic strategies and precise diagnostic tools has become an urgent need in oncology research. In recent years, exosomes have emerged as important candidates for targeted tumor therapy due to their natural, endogenous nanocarrier properties, such as low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility, and the ability to cross biological barriers. In particular, exosome-based delivery systems loading functional microRNAs (miRNAs) offer a promising new strategy for intervening in malignant tumor progression. Studies have shown that exosome-delivered tumor-suppressive miRNAs can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, promote apoptosis, impede migration and invasion, and reverse chemoresistance. These functions have been validated through in vitro cellular models and in vivo animal experiments across various tumors, confirming the efficacy of engineered exosome-miRNA delivery systems in suppressing tumor growth, delaying metastasis, and sensitizing tumors to treatment. Furthermore, in the field of biomarkers, aberrant expression of various miRNAs is closely associated with GBM proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Specifically, downregulated tumor-suppressive miRNAs and upregulated oncogenic miRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression, assessing prognosis, and predicting therapeutic response. In summary, the miRNA system offers dual potential as both a targeted therapeutic approach and a precise biomarker, providing new directions for the diagnosis and treatment of GBM. However, challenges such as optimizing delivery efficiency and enhancing targeting specificity remain. Moving forward, interdisciplinary efforts will be essential to overcome these technical barriers and advance its translation from basic research to clinical application.

Keywords: GBM; biomarker; exosome; miRNA; therapeutic targets

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1806864