Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Jul 20;41(8):203.
doi: 10.1007/s12032-024-02440-3.

Therapeutic and diagnostic applications of exosomes in colorectal cancer

Neda Shakerian  1 , Elham Darzi-Eslam  2 , Fatemeh Afsharnoori  2 , Nikoo Bana  3 , Faezeh Noorabad Ghahroodi  4 , Mojtaba Tarin  5 , Maysam Mard-Soltani  1 , Bahman Khalesi  6 , Zahra Sadat Hashemi  7 , Saeed Khalili  8
Affiliations
Review

Therapeutic and diagnostic applications of exosomes in colorectal cancer

Neda Shakerian et al. Med Oncol. .

Abstract

Exosomes play a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC) related processes. This review explores the various functions of exosomes in CRC and their potential as diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and drug delivery vehicles. Exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) significantly influence CRC progression. Specific exosomal lncRNAs are linked to drug resistance and tumor growth, respectively, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Similarly, miRNAs like miR-21, miR-10b, and miR-92a-3p, carried by exosomes, contribute to chemotherapy resistance by altering signaling pathways and gene expression in CRC cells. The review also discusses exosomes' utility in CRC diagnosis. Exosomes from cancer cells have distinct molecular signatures compared to healthy cells, making them reliable biomarkers. Specific exosomal lncRNAs (e.g., CRNDE-h) and miRNAs (e.g., miR-17-92a) have shown effectiveness in early CRC detection and monitoring of treatment responses. Furthermore, exosomes show promise as vehicles for targeted drug delivery. The potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes in CRC treatment is also noted, with their role varying from promoting to inhibiting tumor progression. The application of multi-omics approaches to exosome research is highlighted, emphasizing the potential for discovering novel CRC biomarkers through comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses. The review also explores the emerging field of exosome-based vaccines, which utilize exosomes' natural properties to elicit strong immune responses. In conclusion, exosomes represent a promising frontier in CRC research, offering new avenues for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Their unique properties and versatile functions underscore the need for continued investigation into their clinical applications and underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Exosome; MicroRNA; Oncogenic molecules; lncRNA.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Morgan E, Arnold M, Gini A, Lorenzoni V, Cabasag C, Laversanne M, et al. Global burden of colorectal cancer in 2020 and 2040: incidence and mortality estimates from GLOBOCAN. Gut. 2023;72(2):338–44. - PubMed - DOI
    1. Mediu N, Mediu R, Alimehmeti R. Risk factors of colorectal cancer in hospitalized patients in regional hospital Durrës. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022;10(B):222–6. - DOI
    1. Alrubaie A, Alkhalidi N, Abd-Alhusain S. A clinical study of newly-diagnosed colorectal cancer over 2 years in a gastroenterology center in Iraq. J Coloproctol (Rio de Janeiro). 2019;39:217–22. - DOI
    1. Lin G, Feng Z, Liu H, Li Y, Nie Y, Liang Y, et al. Mass screening for colorectal cancer in a population of two million older adults in Guangzhou. China Scientific Reports. 2019;9(1):1–8.
    1. Kheirelseid EA, Miller N, Kerin MJ. Molecular biology of colorectal cancer: review of the literature. Am J Mol Biol. 2013;3:72-80. - DOI

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources