Multifaceted roles of exosomes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Carrying nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and other substances, the tumor microenvironment-derived and cancer-derived exosomes promote tumor metastasis through intercellular communication. These exosomes mediate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells, which is a key step in tumor invasion and distant metastasis. Exosomes also play important roles in creating tumor microenvironment to help tumor cells escape immune surveillance and to promote the formation of pre-metastatic niche for the engraftment of detached cancer cells. In this review, the progress in multifaceted roles of exosomes in tumor metastasis by inducing EMT, regulating immune response and promoting the formation of pre-metastatic microenvironment was discussed.