scholarly journals Small Extracellular Vesicles and Metastasis—Blame the Messenger

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4380
Author(s):  
Tanja Seibold ◽  
Mareike Waldenmaier ◽  
Thomas Seufferlein ◽  
Tim Eiseler
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Metastatic Cascade ◽  
Membrane Breakdown ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Systemic Dissemination ◽  
Metastatic Growth

Cancer is a complex disease, driven by genetic defects and environmental cues. Systemic dissemination of cancer cells by metastasis is generally associated with poor prognosis and is responsible for more than 90% of cancer deaths. Metastasis is thought to follow a sequence of events, starting with loss of epithelial features, detachment of tumor cells, basement membrane breakdown, migration, intravasation and survival in the circulation. At suitable distant niches, tumor cells reattach, extravasate and establish themselves by proliferating and attracting vascularization to fuel metastatic growth. These processes are facilitated by extensive cross-communication of tumor cells with cells in the primary tumor microenvironment (TME) as well as at distant pre-metastatic niches. A vital part of this communication network are small extracellular vesicles (sEVs, exosomes) with a size of 30–150 nm. Tumor-derived sEVs educate recipient cells with bioactive cargos, such as proteins, and in particular, major nucleic acid classes, to drive tumor growth, cell motility, angiogenesis, immune evasion and formation of pre-metastatic niches. Circulating sEVs are also utilized as biomarker platforms for diagnosis and prognosis. This review discusses how tumor cells facilitate progression through the metastatic cascade by employing sEV-based communication and evaluates their role as biomarkers and vehicles for drug delivery.

scholarly journals Current Applications and Discoveries Related to the Membrane Components of Circulating Tumor Cells and Extracellular Vesicles

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2221
Author(s):  
Luis Enrique Cortés-Hernández ◽  
Zahra Eslami-S ◽  
Bruno Costa-Silva ◽  
Catherine Alix-Panabières
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Liquid Biopsy ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Phospholipid Membrane ◽  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Metastatic Cascade

In cancer, many analytes can be investigated through liquid biopsy. They play fundamental roles in the biological mechanisms underpinning the metastatic cascade and provide clinical information that can be monitored in real time during the natural course of cancer. Some of these analytes (circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles) share a key feature: the presence of a phospholipid membrane that includes proteins, lipids and possibly nucleic acids. Most cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions are modulated by the cell membrane composition. To understand cancer progression, it is essential to describe how proteins, lipids and nucleic acids in the membrane influence these interactions in cancer cells. Therefore, assessing such interactions and the phospholipid membrane composition in different liquid biopsy analytes might be important for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we briefly describe some of the most important surface components of circulating tumor cells and extracellular vesicles as well as their interactions, putting an emphasis on how they are involved in the different steps of the metastatic cascade and how they can be exploited by the different liquid biopsy technologies.

scholarly journals Gauging the Impact of Cancer Treatment Modalities on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor J. Mathias ◽  
Katarina T. Chang ◽  
Stuart S. Martin ◽  
Michele I. Vitolo
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Linear Process ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Metastatic Cascade ◽  
Metastatic Growth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Worse Prognosis

The metastatic cascade consists of multiple complex steps, but the belief that it is a linear process is diminishing. In order to metastasize, cells must enter the blood vessels or body cavities (depending on the cancer type) via active or passive mechanisms. Once in the bloodstream and/or lymphatics, these cancer cells are now termed circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTC numbers as well as CTC clusters have been used as a prognostic marker with higher numbers of CTCs and/or CTC clusters correlating with an unfavorable prognosis. However, we have very limited knowledge about CTC biology, including which of these cells are ultimately responsible for overt metastatic growth, but due to the fact that higher numbers of CTCs correlate with a worse prognosis; it would seem appropriate to either limit CTCs and/or their dissemination. Here, we will discuss the different cancer treatments which may inadvertently promote the mobilization of CTCs and potential CTC therapies to decrease metastasis.

Effect of Annexins Translocated in Extracellular Vesicles on Tumorigenesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qionghui Wu ◽  
Haidong Wei ◽  
Wenbo Meng ◽  
Xiaodong Xie ◽  
Zhenchang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Tumor Cell Adhesion ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Tumor Neovascularization

: Annexin, a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, can affect tumor cell adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, as well as tumor neovascularization in different ways. Recent studies have shown that annexin exists not only as an intracellular protein in tumor cells, but also in different ways to be secret outside the cell as a “crosstalk” tool for tumor cells and tumor microenvironment, thus playing an important role in the development of tumors, such as participating in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulating immune cell behavior, promoting neovascularization and so on. The mechanism of annexin secretion in the form of extracellular vesicles and its specific role is still unclear. This paper summarizes the main role of annexin secreted into the extracellular space in the form of extracellular vesicles in tumorigenesis and drug resistance and analyzes its possible mechanism.

scholarly journals Molecular and Circulating Biomarkers of Brain Tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 7039
Author(s):  
Wojciech Jelski ◽  
Barbara Mroczko
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Liquid Biopsies ◽  
Methylguanine Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Brain tumors are the most common malignant primary intracranial tumors of the central nervous system. They are often recognized too late for successful therapy. Minimally invasive methods are needed to establish a diagnosis or monitor the response to treatment of CNS tumors. Brain tumors release molecular information into the circulation. Liquid biopsies collect and analyze tumor components in body fluids, and there is an increasing interest in the investigation of liquid biopsies as a substitute for tumor tissue. Tumor-derived biomarkers include nucleic acids, proteins, and tumor-derived extracellular vesicles that accumulate in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. In recent years, circulating tumor cells have also been identified in the blood of glioblastoma patients. In this review of the literature, the authors highlight the significance, regulation, and prevalence of molecular biomarkers such as O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, epidermal growth factor receptor, and isocitrate dehydrogenase. Herein, we critically review the available literature on plasma circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free tumors (ctDNAs), circulating cell-free microRNAs (cfmiRNAs), and circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) for the diagnosis and monitoring of brain tumor. Currently available markers have significant limitations.While much research has been conductedon these markers, there is still a significant amount that we do not yet understand, which may account for some conflicting reports in the literature.

scholarly journals The Cellular and Biological Impact of Extracellular Vesicles in Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3040
Author(s):  
Zainab Hussain ◽  
Jeremy Nigri ◽  
Richard Tomasini
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Pancreatic Tumors ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Biological Impact ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
Cellular Components ◽  
Tumoral Cells

Deciphering the interactions between tumor and stromal cells is a growing field of research to improve pancreatic cancer-associated therapies and patients’ care. Indeed, while accounting for 50 to 90% of the tumor mass, many pieces of evidence reported that beyond their structural role, the non-tumoral cells composing the intra-tumoral microenvironment influence tumor cells’ proliferation, metabolism, cell death and resistance to therapies, among others. Simultaneously, tumor cells can influence non-tumoral neighboring or distant cells in order to shape a tumor-supportive and immunosuppressive environment as well as influencing the formation of metastatic niches. Among intercellular modes of communication, extracellular vesicles can simultaneously transfer the largest variety of signals and were recently reported as key effectors of cell–cell communication in pancreatic cancer, from its development to its evolution as well as its ability to resist available treatments. This review focuses on extracellular vesicles-mediated communication between different cellular components of pancreatic tumors, from the modulation of cellular activities and abilities to their biological and physiological relevance. Taking into consideration the intra-tumoral microenvironment and its extracellular-mediated crosstalk as main drivers of pancreatic cancer development should open up new therapeutic windows.

scholarly journals Circulating Tumor Cells from Enumeration to Analysis: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2723
Author(s):  
Yu-Ping Yang ◽  
Teresa M. Giret ◽  
Richard J. Cote
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Clinical Utilization ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Early Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Downstream Analysis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been recognized as a major contributor to distant metastasis. Their unique role as metastatic seeds renders them a potential marker in the circulation for early cancer diagnosis and prognosis as well as monitoring of therapeutic response. In the past decade, researchers mainly focused on the development of isolation techniques for improving the recovery rate and purity of CTCs. These developed techniques have significantly increased the detection sensitivity and enumeration accuracy of CTCs. Currently, significant efforts have been made toward comprehensive molecular characterization, ex vivo expansion of CTCs, and understanding the interactions between CTCs and their associated cells (e.g., immune cells and stromal cells) in the circulation. In this review, we briefly summarize existing CTC isolation technologies and specifically focus on advances in downstream analysis of CTCs and their potential applications in precision medicine. We also discuss the current challenges and future opportunities in their clinical utilization.

Tumor cells derived-extracellular vesicles transfer miR-3129 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by targeting TXNIP

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 474-485
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Feifei Mao ◽  
Lei Guo ◽  
Jie Shi ◽  
Mengchao Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Carcinoma Metastasis

scholarly journals Microfluidic Chip-Based Cancer Diagnosis and Prediction of Relapse by Detecting Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Cancer Stem Cells

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1385
Author(s):  
Hyeon-Yeol Cho ◽  
Jin-Ha Choi ◽  
Joungpyo Lim ◽  
Sang-Nam Lee ◽  
Jeong-Woo Choi
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Cancer Prognosis ◽  
Optical Biosensors ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Noise Factors ◽  
Prediction Of Relapse

Detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been considered one of the best biomarkers in liquid biopsy for early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring in cancer. A major challenge of using CTCs is detecting extremely low-concentrated targets in the presence of high noise factors such as serum and hematopoietic cells. This review provides a selective overview of the recent progress in the design of microfluidic devices with optical sensing tools and their application in the detection and analysis of CTCs and their small malignant subset, circulating cancer stem cells (CCSCs). Moreover, discussion of novel strategies to analyze the differentiation of circulating cancer stem cells will contribute to an understanding of metastatic cancer, which can help clinicians to make a better assessment. We believe that the topic discussed in this review can provide brief guideline for the development of microfluidic-based optical biosensors in cancer prognosis monitoring and clinical applications.

Protein biomarkers in breast cancer-derived extracellular vesicles for use in liquid biopsies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Li ◽  
Wenjia Lai ◽  
Di Fan ◽  
Qiaojun Fang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Liquid Biopsy ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Extracellular Vesicle ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Protein Markers ◽  
Liquid Biopsies ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the management of breast cancer. Liquid biopsies are becoming convenient detection methods for diagnosing and monitoring breast cancer due to their non-invasiveness and ability to provide real-time feedback. A range of liquid biopsy markers, including circulating tumor proteins, circulating tumor cells, and circulating tumor nucleic acids, have been implemented for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis, with each having its own advantages and limitations. Circulating extracellular vesicles are messengers of intercellular communication that are packed with information from mother cells and are found in a wide variety of bodily fluids; thus, they are emerging as ideal candidates for liquid biopsy biomarkers. In this review, we summarize extracellular vesicle protein markers that can be potentially used for the early diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer or determining its specific subtypes.

scholarly journals The basic characteristics of extracellular vesicles and their potential application in bone sarcomas

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenglong Li
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Bone Sarcoma ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Signal Molecules ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Bone Sarcomas ◽  
Basic Characteristics ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Sarcoma Cells

AbstractBone sarcomas are rare cancers accompanied by metastatic disease, mainly including osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane vesicles released by cells in the extracellular matrix, which carry important signal molecules, can stably and widely present in various body fluids, such as plasma, saliva and scalp fluid, spinal cord, breast milk, and urine liquid. EVs can transport almost all types of biologically active molecules (DNA, mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), proteins, metabolites, and even pharmacological compounds). In this review, we summarized the basic biological characteristics of EVs and focused on their application in bone sarcomas. EVs can be use as biomarker vehicles for diagnosis and prognosis in bone sarcomas. The role of EVs in bone sarcoma has been analyzed point-by-point. In the microenvironment of bone sarcoma, bone sarcoma cells, mesenchymal stem cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and endothelial cells coexist and interact with each other. EVs play an important role in the communication between cells. Based on multiple functions in bone sarcoma, this review provides new ideas for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and new diagnostic analysis.

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