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Review
. 2017 Jun:44:170-181.
doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.02.006. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

The role of exosomes in cancer metastasis

Teresa Bernadette Steinbichler  1 , József Dudás  1 , Herbert Riechelmann  1 , Ira-Ida Skvortsova  2
Affiliations
Review

The role of exosomes in cancer metastasis

Teresa Bernadette Steinbichler et al. Semin Cancer Biol. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles with a size ranging from 40 to 100nm. They can serve as functional mediators in cell interaction leading to cancer metastasis. Metastasis is a complex multistep process of cancer cell invasion, survival in blood vessels, attachment to and colonization of the host organ. Exosomes influence every step of this cascade and can be targeted by oncological treatment. This review highlights the role of exosomes in the various steps of the metastatic cascade and how exosome dependent pathways can be targeted as therapeutic approach or used for liquid biopsies.

Keywords: Cancer-associated fibroblasts; EMT; Organotropic metastasis; Premetastatic niche; Tumor derived exosomes.

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