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Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Characterization of Immune Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles and Studying Functional Impact on Cell Environment
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Published on: June 2, 2020

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Pro-tumoral functions of tumor-associated macrophage EV-miRNA

Alexander Cocks1, Filippo Del Vecchio1, Verena Martinez-Rodriguez2

  • 1Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawai'i Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA.

Seminars in Cancer Biology
|August 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Tumor-associated macrophages release microRNAs (miRNAs) within extracellular vesicles (EVs) that promote cancer progression. These vesicular miRNAs transferred from TAMs to cancer cells drive malignant behaviors, offering potential as novel anti-cancer agents.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in cancer biology.
  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial components of the TME.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of EV-contained miRNAs from TAMs in cancer.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which TAM-derived miRNAs influence cancer cells.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of these miRNAs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on miRNA-EV interactions in the TME.
  • Analysis of studies investigating TAM-macrophage and cancer cell communication.
  • Synthesis of evidence on the impact of TAM-derived miRNAs on cancer hallmarks.

Main Results:

  • TAMs release EVs containing specific miRNAs that target cancer cells.
  • These vesicular miRNAs promote key cancer hallmarks, including proliferation and metastasis.
  • EV-miRNAs from TAMs contribute to therapeutic resistance.

Conclusions:

  • TAM-derived exosomal miRNAs play a significant role in shaping the tumor microenvironment.
  • Targeting these miRNA-EV interactions presents a novel therapeutic strategy.
  • TAM-derived miRNAs are promising candidates for future anti-cancer therapies.
Keywords:
Extracellular vesicleTumor microenvironmentTumor-associated macrophagemicroRNA

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