Gastric cancer-derived exosomes promote peritoneal metastasis by destroying the mesothelial barrier

An intact mesothelium serves as a protective barrier to inhibit peritoneal carcinomatosis. Cancer-derived exosomes can mediate directional tumor metastasis; however, little is known about whether gastric cancer-derived exosomes will destroy the mesothelial barrier and promote peritoneal dissemination. Here, we demonstrate that gastric cancer-derived exosomes facilitate peritoneal metastasis by causing mesothelial barrier disruption and peritoneal fibrosis. Injury of peritoneal mesothelial cells elicited by gastric cancer-derived exosomes is through concurrent apoptosis and mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT). Additionally, upregulation of p-ERK in peritoneal mesothelial cells is primarily responsible for the MMT while contributing little to apoptosis. Together, these data support the concept that exosomes play a crucial role in remodeling the premetastatic microenvironment and identify a novel mechanism for peritoneal metastasis of gastric carcinoma.