Cell-derived microvesicles and cancer
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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of Microvesicles from Peripheral Blood
Published on: January 6, 2017
F F van Doormaal1, A Kleinjan, M Di Nisio
1Departments of Vascular Medicine and Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. F.F.vanDoormaal@amc.uva.nl
Abstract:
Blood and other body f luids contain cell-derived microvesicles. The presence of microvesicles in cancer patients was already noticed in the late 1970s. Since then, the prothrombotic state in cancer patients has invariably been associated with the presence of such microvesicles. More recently, a growing body of evidence supports an important contribution of microvesicles to cancer cell survival, invasiveness and metastases. Here, we will present an overview of the many contributions of microvesicles to cancer development and progression. In addition, their role in risk stratification and treatment of cancer patients is discussed.
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