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Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression
Published on: October 6, 2023
microRNA exchange via extracellular vesicles in cancer
Luyen Tien Vu1,2, Jinhua Gong2,3, Thach Tuan Pham1,2
1Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Cells utilize different means of inter-cellular communication to function properly. Here, we review the crosstalk between cancer cells and their surrounding environment through microRNA (miRNA)-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs). The current findings suggest that the export of miRNAs and uptake of miRNA-containing EVs might be an active process. As post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, cancer-derived miRNAs that are taken up by normal cells can change the translational profile of the recipient cell towards a transformed proteome. Stromal cells can also deliver miRNAs via EVs to cancer cells to support tumour growth and cancer progression. Therefore, gaining a better understanding of EV-mediated inter-cellular communication in the tumour microenvironment might lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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