LAPSE:2021.0563
Published Article
LAPSE:2021.0563
An Overview of Exosomes in Cancer Therapy: A Small Solution to a Big Problem
Paulo Rodrigues, Catarina Melim, Francisco Veiga, Ana Figueiras
June 21, 2021
Exosomes are defined as a type of extracellular vesicle released when multivesicular bodies of the endocytic pathway fuse with the plasma membrane. They are characterized by their role in extracellular communication, partly due to their composition, and present the ability to recognize and interact with cells from the immune system, enabling an immune response. Their targeting capability and nanosized dimensions make them great candidates for cancer therapy. As chemotherapy is associated with cytotoxicity and multiple drug resistance, the use of exosomes targeting capabilities, able to deliver anticancer drugs specifically to cancer cells, is a great approach to overcome these disadvantages. The objective is to assess treatment efficiency in reducing tumor cells, as well as overall safety and response by cancer carriers. So far, results show exosomes as a promising therapeutic strategy in the fight against cancer. This review summarizes the characteristics and composition of exosomes, as well as explaining in detail the involved parties in the origin of exosomes. Furthermore, some considerations about exosome application in immunotherapy are addressed. The main isolation and loading methods are described to give an insight into how exosomes can be obtained and manipulated. Finally, some therapeutic applications of exosomes in cancer therapy are described.
Keywords
cancer therapy, ESCRT pathway, exosomes, in vivo studies immunotherapy, nanovesicles
Subject
Suggested Citation
Rodrigues P, Melim C, Veiga F, Figueiras A. An Overview of Exosomes in Cancer Therapy: A Small Solution to a Big Problem. (2021). LAPSE:2021.0563
Author Affiliations
Rodrigues P: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Pólo III—Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Melim C: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Pólo III—Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Veiga F: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Pólo III—Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, REQUIMTE/LAQV, Faculty of Pharmacy, Un
Figueiras A: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Pólo III—Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, REQUIMTE/LAQV, Faculty of Pharmacy, Un [ORCID]
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
8
Issue
12
Article Number
E1561
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-11-27
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: pr8121561, Publication Type: Review
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LAPSE:2021.0563
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doi:10.3390/pr8121561
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Jun 21, 2021
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CC BY 4.0
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Jun 21, 2021
 
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Jun 21, 2021
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https://psecommunity.org/LAPSE:2021.0563
 
Original Submitter
Calvin Tsay
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