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Review
. 2020 Aug 14;21(16):5840.
doi: 10.3390/ijms21165840.

Exosomes in Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenic Therapy in Cancers

Wioletta Olejarz  1   2 , Grażyna Kubiak-Tomaszewska  1   2 , Alicja Chrzanowska  3 , Tomasz Lorenc  4
Affiliations
Review

Exosomes in Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenic Therapy in Cancers

Wioletta Olejarz et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Angiogenesis is the process through which new blood vessels are formed from pre-existing ones. Exosomes are involved in angiogenesis in cancer progression by transporting numerous pro-angiogenic biomolecules like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and microRNAs. Exosomes promote angiogenesis by suppressing expression of factor-inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Uptake of tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) by normal endothelial cells activates angiogenic signaling pathways in endothelial cells and stimulates new vessel formation. TEX-driven cross-talk of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with immune cells blocks their anti-tumor activity. Effective inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may arrest tumor progression. Bevacizumab, a VEGF-specific antibody, was the first antiangiogenic agent to enter the clinic. The most important clinical problem associated with cancer therapy using VEGF- or VEFGR-targeting agents is drug resistance. Combined strategies based on angiogenesis inhibitors and immunotherapy effectively enhances therapies in various cancers, but effective treatment requires further research.

Keywords: angiogenesis; anti-angiogenic therapy; exosomes; extracellular vesicles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The structure and content of exosomes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Epigenetic and genetic induction of angiogenesis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Endogenous regulators of angiogenesis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Exosomes as carriers of pro-angiogenic factors and anti-angiogenic drugs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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