title: Potential of cancer cell-derived exosomes in clinical application: a review of recent research advances.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exosomes are 30- to 100-nm, membrane-bound vesicles that are released by most types of cells, including tumor cells. Exosomes contain a great variety of bioactive molecules, including signal peptides, microRNA, lipids, and DNA. In cancer, tumor cells aberrantly secrete large quantities of exosomes to transport paracrine signals or to contribute to tumor-environment interaction at a distance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this review was to discuss the recent advances on the mechanism of cancer-derived exosomes in tumor regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pertinent articles and abstracts were identified through searches of PubMed for literature published from 1983 to December 2013. Search terms included exosome, tumor, cancer, diagnosis, and therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the exposed evidence points to communication between cancer cells and their surroundings, either mediated by cancer cell-derived exosomes or by stromal cell-derived exosomes. This communication probably supports tumor proliferation, motility, invasion, angiogenesis, and premetastatic niche preparation. In addition, recent research implies that cancer cell-derived exosomes play a suppressive role in cancer-directed immune response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biomarkers detected in bodily fluid-derived exosomes imply a potential for exosomes in cancer diagnosis. Also, exosomes could be used as a vehicle to selectively deliver therapeutic nucleic-acid drugs or conventional drugs for tumor therapy. The tolerability and feasibility of cancer exosomes in diagnosis and therapy need to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine Centre, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine Centre, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, P.R. China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, P.R. China. Electronic address: liujing.dlrmc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D055354:Exosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: cancer; diagnosis; exosomes; therapy