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Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Enhancing Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Extracellular Vesicles (CAR-EV) Technology: The Future of Cancer Therapy
Published on: September 19, 2025
Cetuximab treatment alters the content of extracellular vesicles released from tumor cells
Susan M van Dommelen1, Roy van der Meel1,2, Wouter W van Solinge1
1Department of Clinical Chemistry & Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Aim:
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are attractive candidates for biomarker research, because their content reflects the parental cell status. This study aimed to examine whether tumor cell derived EVs mirrored the cellular changes caused by treatment with cetuximab, a therapeutic antibody that blocks activation of EGF receptor (EGFR).
Materials & Methods:
A-431 cells were treated with cetuximab for 48 h. EVs were isolated using differential centrifugation and protein content was analyzed using western blotting.
Results:
EV levels of EGFR and phospho-EGFR were reduced after cetuximab treatment, reflecting similar changes in the parental cells. In addition, cetuximab was found associated with EVs.
Conclusion:
EVs could serve as biomarkers to monitor cetuximab treatment. Association of cetuximab with EVs might influence its behavior.
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