The role of extracellular vesicles in cancer microenvironment and metastasis: Myths and challenges

Fabrice Lucien, Hon S. Leong

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The concept of vesicles or cell debris released by cancer cells to promote metastasis is not new, but the mechanisms used to currently ascribe their impact in metastasis are of intense debate. A significant increase in reports describing the role of cancer-derived EVs in cancer metastasis has been followed by a growing amount of uncertainty behind these claims. This review will delve into the role of EVs in promoting cancer metastasis by relying on a balanced perspective that looks at challenges faced previously by extracellular vesicle biologists, current technical limitations in the field, and overlooked physiologic mechanisms that may play a confounding role. This review will also discuss how certain experimental approaches are misleading which ultimately lead to overly optimistic mechanisms that have minimally contributed to the pathophysiology of metastasis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)273-280
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of extracellular vesicles in cancer microenvironment and metastasis: Myths and challenges'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this