Microvesicles in Cancer: Small Size, Large Potential

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are secreted by all cell types in a tumor and its microenvironment (TME), playing an essential role in intercellular communication and the establishment of a TME favorable for tumor invasion and metastasis. They encompass a variety of vesicle populations, among them the w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2020-07, Vol.21 (15), p.5373
Main Authors: Menck, Kerstin, Sivaloganathan, Suganja, Bleckmann, Annalen, Binder, Claudia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biomarker
Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism
Biosynthesis
Brownian motion
Cancer
Cell Communication
Cell signaling
Cell-Derived Microparticles - metabolism
Cell-Derived Microparticles - pathology
Chromatography
Exosomes
Exosomes - metabolism
Extracellular vesicles
Flow cytometry
Gene expression
Humans
Laboratories
Medical research
Metastases
Methods
microvesicles
Nanoparticles
Neoplasms - metabolism
Neoplasms - pathology
Proteins
Review
Spectrum analysis
therapy
Tumor Microenvironment
Tumors
Vesicles
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Summary:Extracellular vesicles (EV) are secreted by all cell types in a tumor and its microenvironment (TME), playing an essential role in intercellular communication and the establishment of a TME favorable for tumor invasion and metastasis. They encompass a variety of vesicle populations, among them the well-known endosomal-derived small exosomes (Exo), but also larger vesicles (diameter > 100 nm) that are shed directly from the plasma membrane, the so-called microvesicles (MV). Increasing evidence suggests that MV, although biologically different, share the tumor-promoting features of Exo in the TME. Due to their larger size, they can be readily harvested from patients' blood and characterized by routine methods such as conventional flow cytometry, exploiting the plethora of molecules expressed on their surface. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the biology and the composition of MV, as well as their role within the TME. We highlight not only the challenges and potential of MV as novel biomarkers for cancer, but also discuss their possible use for therapeutic intervention.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms21155373