Exosomal Non-Coding RNAs: Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Applications in Cancer

Non-Coding RNA

Marc D. Bullock²  Andreia M. Silva³  Pinar Kanlikilicer-Unaldi³  Justyna Filant¹  Mohammed H. Rashed³  Anil K. Sood¹  Gabriel Lopez-Berestein³  George A. Calin³ 

[1] Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77230 USA; E-Mails:;Cancer sciences unit, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK;Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, TX, 77054, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: exosome;    non-coding RNA;    microRNA;    long non-coding RNA;    cancer;    biomarker;    therapy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ncrna1010053

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, are important regulatory molecules which are corrupted in cancer, often in a tissue and stage specific manner. Accumulated data suggests that these promising biomarkers, may also form the basis of novel targeted therapeutic strategies. The role of exosomes in cancer development and metastasis pathways is also increasingly well described. These endosome derived extracellular vesicles which are trafficked horizontally between tumor cells, and vertically between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment, carry bioactive cargos, which can reprogram the phenotype of recipient cells with important oncogenic consequences.

Exosomes are enriched with non-coding RNA content. Within exosomes, non-coding RNAs are secreted into the peripheral circulation and other bodily fluids where they are protected from enzymatic degradation by the surrounding phospholipid membrane. Exosomes are therefore a highly promising source of diagnostic and prognostic material in cancer. Furthermore, as exosomes are natural ncRNA carriers, they may be adapted for the purpose of drug delivery by the introduction of exogenous ncRNAs or by manipulating their endogenous ncRNA content. In the current review, we will explore these highly clinically relevant themes by examining the roles of exosomal ncRNAs in cancer diagnostics, prognostics and therapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.