Extracellular Vesicles and Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Progression: New Therapeutic Perspectives.

ABSTRACT: Tumor burden is a complex microenvironment where different cell populations coexist and have intense cross-talk. Among them, a heterogeneous population of tumor cells with staminal features are grouped under the definition of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are also considered responsible for tumor progression, drug resistance, and disease relapse. Furthermore, CSCs secrete a wide variety of extracellular vesicles (EVs) with different cargos, including proteins, lipids, ssDNA, dsDNA, mRNA, siRNA, or miRNA. EVs are internalized by other cells, orienting the microenvironment toward a protumorigenic and prometastatic one. Given their importance in tumor growth and metastasis, EVs could be exploited as a new therapeutic target. The inhibition of biogenesis, release, or uptake of EVs could repre

SUBMITTER: Scioli MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8508599 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature