Extracellular vesicles: Emerging mediators of cell communication in gastrointestinal cancers exhibiting metabolic abnormalities

• Published in: Cytokine & growth factor reviews 2023-10, Vol.73, p.101-113
• Main Authors: Pourali, Ghazaleh, Zafari, Nima, Fiuji, Hamid, Batra, Jyotsna, Nazari, Elham, Khazaei, Majid, Hassanian, Seyed Mahdi, Vahabi, Mahrou, Kiani, MohammadAli, Ghayour-Mobarhan, Majid, Peters, Godefridus J., Ferns, Gordon A., Lam, Alfred King-yin, Giovannetti, Elisa, Avan, Amir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exosomal cargos; Extracellular vesicles; Gastrointestinal cancers; Hepatopancreatobiliary cancer; Metabolic reprogramming; Tumour microenvironment
• ISSN: 1359-6101
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.08.001

There is a complex interaction between pro-tumoural and anti-tumoural networks in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Throughout tumourigenesis, communication between malignant cells and various cells of the TME contributes to metabolic reprogramming. Tumour Dysregulation of metabolic pathways offer an evolutional advantage in the TME and enhance the tumour progression, invasiveness, and metastasis. Therefore, understanding these interactions within the TME is crucial for the development of innovative cancer treatments. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as carriers of various materials that include microRNAs, proteins, and lipids that play a vital role in the communication between tumour cells and non-tumour cells. EVs are actively involved in the metabolic reprogramming process. This review summarized recent findings regarding the involvement of EVs in the metabolic reprogramming of various cells in the TME of gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, we highlight identified microRNAs involved in the reprogramming process in this group of cancers and explained the abnormal tumour metabolism targeted by exosomal cargos as well as the novel potential therapeutic approaches. [Display omitted] •EVs have emerged as critical mediators of cell communication in GI exhibiting metabolic abnormalities.•EVs are instrumental in shaping the TME by delivering metabolic signals to adjacent and distant cells and thereby influence CAFs, immune cells, and endothelial cells, modulating tumour growth, angiogenesis, and immune escape.•EVs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for GI. Their presence and cargo composition can reflect the metabolic state of the tumour, aiding in early detection.•Targeting EVs and their cargo represents a potential therapeutic strategy for GI. By interfering with specific EV-mediated metabolic pathways, it may be possible to inhibit tumour growth and metastasis.•Engineered EVs can serve as vehicles for targeted drug delivery.