Figures & data
Fig. 1. The promotion of exosome to cancer metastasis. Tumour-associated exosomes influence other cells and modulate microenvironment, involving the key steps in cancer metastasis cascade. 1) In primary site, tumour cells secrete exosomes to induce EMT and degrade the matrix. The Wnt pathway in cancer cells is activated by exosomes during the migration. 2) As intravasation, endothelium is disturbed directly by tumour-secreted exosomes and indirectly by macrophages activated by exosomes derived from tumour cells. 3) Both circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and tumour-activated platelets secrete exosomes affecting the immune cells and CTCs. 4) Adhesive molecules on endothelial cells are upregulated by exosomes from the adherent tumour cell. 5) Disseminated tumour cells will proliferate forming a micrometastasis in appropriate niche, which is remoulded by exosomes from primary site.
Table I. The contribution of EV to key steps in tumour metastasis
Table II. Molecules in EV from body fluids of patients with cancer as potential markers for personalized medicine
Table III. Isolation strategy of EV
