Abstract
Extracellular vesicles-including exosomes-facilitate long-range intercellular communication in cancer. These membrane-lined vesicles are diffusible carriers of vital cellular signals that can alter the phenotype of recipient cells. However, they are not the only mediator of long-range intercellular cross talk in the complex and heterogeneous tumor microenvironment. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) and tumor microtubes are long, thin, filamentous actin-based cell extensions formed by cancer cells to create direct pipeline-like connections that also mediate direct intercellular signaling. Exosomes and TNTs can, in fact, act synergistically: tumor-derived exosomes stimulate the formation of TNTs in cancer, and in turn TNTs can serve as direct physical conduits for cell-to-cell transport of exosomes and their contents. Here, we will examine the interface of exosomes and TNTs; discuss how they work together rather than in isolation; review physiologic conditions that enhance their formation; and explore common mechanisms and markers of formation that serve as potential therapeutic targets.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Exosomes in Cancer |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 219-234 |
Number of pages | 16 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128127742 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780128128046 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
Keywords
- Angiogenesis
- Cancer biology
- Cell communication
- Exosomes
- Extracellular vesicles
- Intercellular communication
- Metastasis
- Microtubules
- Microvesicles
- Tumor microtubes
- Tumor-treating fields
- Tunneling nanotubes