Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets
Intercommunication between cancer cells and with their surrounding and distant environments is key to the survival, progression and metastasis of the tumour. Exosomes play a role in this communication process. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is frequently dysregulated in tumour cells and can be reflecte...
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doaj-d51e66b0033245c88141406c479aac152020-11-24T23:00:33ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Extracellular Vesicles2001-30782016-07-015011110.3402/jev.v5.3129231292Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targetsArron Thind0Clive Wilson1 John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKIntercommunication between cancer cells and with their surrounding and distant environments is key to the survival, progression and metastasis of the tumour. Exosomes play a role in this communication process. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is frequently dysregulated in tumour cells and can be reflected by distinct exosomal miRNA (ex-miRNA) profiles isolated from the bodily fluids of cancer patients. Here, the potential of ex-miRNA as a cancer biomarker and therapeutic target is critically analysed. Exosomes are a stable source of miRNA in bodily fluids but, despite a number of methods for exosome extraction and miRNA quantification, their suitability for diagnostics in a clinical setting is questionable. Furthermore, exosomally transferred miRNAs can alter the behaviour of recipient tumour and stromal cells to promote oncogenesis, highlighting a role in cell communication in cancer. However, our incomplete understanding of exosome biogenesis and miRNA loading mechanisms means that strategies to target exosomes or their transferred miRNAs are limited and not specific to tumour cells. Therefore, if ex-miRNA is to be employed in novel non-invasive diagnostic approaches and as a therapeutic target in cancer, two further advances are necessary: in methods to isolate and detect ex-miRNA, and a better understanding of their biogenesis and functions in tumour-cell communication.http://www.journalofextracellularvesicles.net/index.php/jev/article/view/31292/pdf_51microRNAexosomesexosome isolationoncogenesistumour microenvironmentcell communication |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Arron Thind Clive Wilson |
spellingShingle |
Arron Thind Clive Wilson Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets Journal of Extracellular Vesicles microRNA exosomes exosome isolation oncogenesis tumour microenvironment cell communication |
author_facet |
Arron Thind Clive Wilson |
author_sort |
Arron Thind |
title |
Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
title_short |
Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
title_full |
Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
title_fullStr |
Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
title_full_unstemmed |
Exosomal miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
title_sort |
exosomal mirnas as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles |
issn |
2001-3078 |
publishDate |
2016-07-01 |
description |
Intercommunication between cancer cells and with their surrounding and distant environments is key to the survival, progression and metastasis of the tumour. Exosomes play a role in this communication process. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is frequently dysregulated in tumour cells and can be reflected by distinct exosomal miRNA (ex-miRNA) profiles isolated from the bodily fluids of cancer patients. Here, the potential of ex-miRNA as a cancer biomarker and therapeutic target is critically analysed. Exosomes are a stable source of miRNA in bodily fluids but, despite a number of methods for exosome extraction and miRNA quantification, their suitability for diagnostics in a clinical setting is questionable. Furthermore, exosomally transferred miRNAs can alter the behaviour of recipient tumour and stromal cells to promote oncogenesis, highlighting a role in cell communication in cancer. However, our incomplete understanding of exosome biogenesis and miRNA loading mechanisms means that strategies to target exosomes or their transferred miRNAs are limited and not specific to tumour cells. Therefore, if ex-miRNA is to be employed in novel non-invasive diagnostic approaches and as a therapeutic target in cancer, two further advances are necessary: in methods to isolate and detect ex-miRNA, and a better understanding of their biogenesis and functions in tumour-cell communication. |
topic |
microRNA exosomes exosome isolation oncogenesis tumour microenvironment cell communication |
url |
http://www.journalofextracellularvesicles.net/index.php/jev/article/view/31292/pdf_51 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT arronthind exosomalmirnasascancerbiomarkersandtherapeutictargets AT clivewilson exosomalmirnasascancerbiomarkersandtherapeutictargets |
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