Soumya Shraddhya Paul, Amity University, Noida
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated deaths in the world. According to WHO, around 1.8 million people all around the world succumbed to lung cancer. With the initial onset of tumor progression, metastasis is the cause of 70% of the mortalities. Due to this reason, exosomes have garnered increased study focus in recent years for their function in the induction of lung carcinogenesis and metastasis.
A study that was conducted by Lei Yin along with other researchers (Yin et al), tried to show the contribution of exosomes in lung cancer metastasis. They mostly emphasize the significance of lung tumor-derived exosomes in immune system evasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis, as well as their participation in pre-metastatic and metastatic stages. Along with this exosomes’ clinical use as therapeutic drug transporters, role in anticancer drug resistance, and value as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are also discussed.
Brief about the study:
The spread of cancer cells to other regions of the body, generally through the bloodstream or lymphatic systems, is a primary cause of mortality in lung cancer patients, this process in short is called metastasis. The metastatic process is an inefficient set of stages, from initial primary tumor development via angiogenesis and intravasation through survival in the circulation, extravasation, and metastatic growth, and only a few discharged cancer cells complete the process. The study showed that exosomes have a grave impact on lung cancer metastasis, exosomes that are found in the tumor microenvironment have been shown to actively influence recipient cell activity and contribute to tumor development. During metastasis, it is participating in cellular communications, modulating cell signaling, and stimulating the creation of a pre-metastatic niche.
It was observed that increased production of molecules like TGF- and IL 10 in tumor-derived exosomes are linked to exosome-induced cancer cell migration. Exosomes produced from other origins, including the bone marrow, adipocytes, and the human umbilical cord, have also been studied in addition to tumor-derived exosomes.
Outcomes if the study:
Exosomes from tumors have been found to have a role in the creation of not only the tumor but also the pre-metastatic niche at the location of potential metastasis, as well as encouraging the proliferation of disseminated lung tumor cells. Exosomal miRNAs and proteins play a crucial role in the regulation of a vast variety of targets and, as a result, numerous pathways, rendering them a valuable tool for illness diagnosis, risk assessment, and prognosis.
Because of their unique characteristics of biocompatibility, circulatory stability, reduced toxicity, and tumor specificity, these nano-sized extracellular vesicles are also being investigated as therapeutic molecular delivery vehicles.
Exosome-dependent pathways and cargoes are ripe for exploiting therapeutic targets to treat carcinoma metastasis, but also for evaluating predictive value in diagnosis, prognosis, and anti-tumor drug resistance, as per existing knowledge.
Also read: Alcohol consumption: A devastating path to cancer
References:
1. Yin, L., Liu, X., Shao, X., Feng, T., Xu, J., Wang, Q., & Hua, S. (2021). The role of exosomes in lung cancer metastasis and clinical applications: An updated review. Journal of Translational Medicine, 19(1), 312. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02985-1
- The Corrosion Prediction from the Corrosion Product Performance
- Nitrogen Resilience in Waterlogged Soybean plants
- Cell Senescence in Type II Diabetes: Therapeutic Potential
- Transgene-Free Canker-Resistant Citrus sinensis with Cas12/RNP
- AI Literacy in Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Author info:
Soumya Shraddhya Paul is an undergrad biotechnology student who worked in building 3D prosthetics in Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, and holds a key interest in nutraceuticals and enzymology.
Publications:
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/understanding-b-cell-genomics-to-fight-against-covid-19/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/the-current-ebola-epidemic-comes-to-an-end/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/epigenetic-changes-can-cause-permanent-changes-to-offsprings/
- https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/crispr-act-3-0-a-revolution-in-plant-gene-technology/
2 thoughts on “Exosomes’ role in lung cancer metastasis”