Horizontal Transfer of Malignant Traits and the Involvement of Extracellular Vesicles in Metastasis

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Metastases are responsible for the vast majority of cancer deaths, yet most therapeutic efforts have focused on targeting and interrupting tumor growth rather than impairing the metastatic process. Traditionally, cancer metastasis is attributed to the dissemination of neoplastic cells from the primary tumor to distant organs through blood and lymphatic circulation. A thorough understanding of the metastatic process is essential to develop new therapeutic strategies that improve cancer survival. Since Paget’s original description of the “Seed and Soil” hypothesis over a hundred years ago, alternative theories and new players have been proposed. In particular, the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by cancer cells and their uptake by neighboring cells or at distinct anatomical sites has been explored. Here, we will outline and discuss these alternative theories and emphasize the horizontal transfer of EV-associated biomolecules as a possibly major event leading to cell transformation and the induction of metastases. We will also highlight the recently discovered intracellular pathway used by EVs to deliver their cargoes into the nucleus of recipient cells, which is a potential target for novel anti-metastatic strategies

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1566
Number of pages27
JournalCells
Volume12
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37371036
Scopus 85163827550
Mendeley 6ebf7832-ec94-359e-9f77-16027588432a

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Humans, Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism, Neoplasms/metabolism, Cell Communication, Phenotype, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism, extracellular vesicles, oncogene, microenvironment, metastasis, exosomes, cancer, nucleoplasmic reticulum, tumor suppressor gene

Library keywords