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Review
. 2019 Mar 30;18(1):52.
doi: 10.1186/s12943-019-0963-9.

Mechanisms associated with biogenesis of exosomes in cancer

Kathleen M McAndrews  1 , Raghu Kalluri  2
Affiliations
Review

Mechanisms associated with biogenesis of exosomes in cancer

Kathleen M McAndrews et al. Mol Cancer. .

Abstract

Intercellular communication between cellular compartments within the tumor and at distant sites is critical for the development and progression of cancer. Exosomes have emerged as potential regulators of intracellular communication in cancer. Exosomes are nanovesicles released by cells that contain biomolecules and are exchanged between cells. Exchange of exosomes between cells has been implicated in a number of processes critical for tumor progression and consequently altering exosome release is an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we review current understanding as well as gaps in knowledge regarding regulators of exosome release in cancer.

Keywords: Biogenesis; Cancer; Exosomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

MD Anderson Cancer Center and R. Kalluri hold patents in the area of exosome biology and are licensed to Codiak Biosciences Inc. MD Anderson Cancer Center and R. Kalluri are stock equity holders in Codiak Biosciences Inc. R. Kalluri is a consultant and a scientific advisor, and receives research support from Codiak Biosciences Inc. R. Kalluri previously served as a member of the board of directors of Codiak Biosciences.

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Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Exosome markers and contents. Common exosome markers include tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, and CD81), flotillin-1, integrins, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II, Hsp70, TSG101, and Alix. Exosomes also contain other proteins, different species of RNA, and DNA
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The role of tumor and stromal cell-derived exosomes in cancer. Reported effects of tumor-cell derived exosomes on stromal cells and vice versa within the tumor microenvironment
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mechanisms of exosome biogenesis. Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are formed from budding of early endosomes, which is in part regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2), endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT), syntenin, ALIX, tetraspanins, and phospholipase D2 (PLD2). In addition, vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus can fuse with endosomes to be incorporated into MVBs. MVBs fuse with the plasma membrane releasing their contents (exosomes). Membrane docking is regulated by Rab7, Rab11, Rab27, Rab35, soluble NSF attachement protein receptors (SNAREs), cortactin and coronin 1b
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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