Exosome application in cancer diagnosis and therapy

Exosomes are natural nanovesicles with ۵۰-۱۰۰ nm sizes, which contain proteins, nucleic acids, and microRNAs. Exosomes originate from multivesicular bodies (MVB), which release their contents outside the cell. These nanovesicles can fuse with the membrane of the recipient cell to pass their information. Exosomes can be used as diagnostic biomarkers since they have a broad range of macromolecules and are proper candidates to provide information about the tumor from which they were originated. Moreover, Exosomes can be used as nanocarriers to deliver therapeutics to the target cell or tissue, such as tumors. Since these nanocarriers are naturally isolated from body cells, they exert fewer side effects than synthetic nanoparticles. Interestingly substances carried by exosomes also have therapeutic effects on some lesions. Exosomes' immunogenicity is very low, resulting in their low cytotoxicity. Since exosomes are derived from cell membranes, they are not captured by the reticuloendothelial system. Therefore, exosomes' half-life in the blood is longer compared to other nanocarriers. Also, many studies have found that exosomes can spontaneously migrate toward unhealthy tissues. Exosomes containing chemotherapy reagents or phytochemicals such as curcumin or anti-tumor miRNAs were effective in inhibiting tumor growth. To conclude, exosomes hold high promises for cancer diagnosis and therapy.