title: The biological significance and clinical applications of exosomes in ovarian cancer.
abstract: Exosomes are nano-sized (20-100nm) vesicles released by a variety of cells and are generated within the endosomal system or at the plasma membrane. There is emerging evidence that exosomes play a key role in intercellular communication in ovarian and other cancers. The protein and microRNA content of exosomes has been implicated in various intracellular processes that mediate oncogenesis, tumor spread, and drug resistance. Exosomes may prime distant tissue sites for reception of future metastases and their release can be mediated by the tumor microenvironment (e.g., hypoxia). Ovarian cancer-derived exosomes have unique features that could be leveraged for use as biomarkers to facilitate improved detection and treatment of the disease. Further, exosomes have the potential to serve as targets and/or drug delivery vehicles in the treatment of ovarian cancer. In this review we discuss the biological and clinical significance of exosomes relevant to the progression, detection, and treatment of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Kalpana Deepa Priya
authors.initials: KDP
authors.lastname: Dorayappan
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wallbillich
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States. Electronic address: selvendiran.karuppaiyah@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Karuppaiyah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Selvendiran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D055354:Exosomes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Bio-marker; Exosomes; Hypoxia; Ovarian cancer; micro RNA