title: Functions and therapeutic roles of exosomes in cancer.
abstract: The role of exosomes in cancer development has become the focus of much research, due to the many emerging roles possessed by exosomes. These micro-vesicles that are ubiquitously released in to the extracellular milieu, have been found to regulate immune system function, particularly in tumorigenesis, as well as conditioning future metastatic sites for the attachment and growth of tumor tissue. Through an interaction with a range of host tissue, exosomes are able to generate a pro-tumor environment that is essential for carcinogenesis. Herein, we discuss the contents of exosomes and their contribution to tumorigenesis, as well as their role in chemotherapeutic resistance and the development of novel cancer treatments and the identification of cancer biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tickner
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Urquhart
authors.affiliation: Eph Receptor Biology Group, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Sally-Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
keywords: biomarker; cancer; chemotherapeutic resistance; exosome; metastatic niche