Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
In Vivo Immunogenicity Screening of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles by Flow Cytometry of Splenic T Cells
Published on: September 23, 2021
Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Promising Tool for Personalized Cancer Therapy
Antonella Barone1, Nicola d'Avanzo2, Maria Chiara Cristiano1
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro Campus Universitario-Germaneto, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Abstract:
The incidence of cancer is increasing dramatically, affecting all ages of the population and reaching an ever higher worldwide mortality rate. The lack of therapies' efficacy is due to several factors such as a delay in diagnosis, tumor regrowth after surgical resection and the occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Tumor-associated immune cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) deeply affect the tumor's progression, leading to several physicochemical changes compared to physiological conditions. In this scenario, macrophages play a crucial role, participating both in tumor suppression or progression based on the polarization of onco-suppressive M1 or pro-oncogenic M2 phenotypes. Moreover, much evidence supports the pivotal role of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators in TME, because of their ability to shuttle the cell-cell and organ-cell communications, by delivering nucleic acids and proteins. EVs are lipid-based nanosystems with a broad size range distribution, which reflect a similar composition of native parent cells, thus providing a natural selectivity towards target sites. In this review, we discuss the impact of macrophage-derived EVs in the cancer's fate as well as their potential implications for the development of personalized anticancer nanomedicine.
Insights
Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators in the tumor microenvironment (TME), influencing cancer progression. This review explores their role and potential for personalized nanomedicine therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Cancer incidence and mortality are rising globally, with limited therapeutic efficacy due to delayed diagnosis, tumor recurrence, and multidrug resistance (MDR).
- The tumor microenvironment (TME), including tumor-associated immune cells like macrophages, significantly impacts cancer progression through physicochemical changes.
- Macrophages exhibit plasticity, with M1 (anti-tumor) and M2 (pro-tumor) phenotypes influencing cancer fate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical role of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating cell-cell and organ-cell communication within the TME.
- To discuss the impact of macrophage-derived EVs on cancer progression and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
- To explore the implications of macrophage-derived EVs for developing personalized anticancer nanomedicine.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on macrophage biology, extracellular vesicles, and cancer immunology.
- Analysis of studies investigating the composition and function of macrophage-derived EVs in the TME.
- Synthesis of current research on nanomedicine approaches utilizing EVs for cancer therapy.
Main Results:
- Macrophage-derived EVs act as crucial intercellular communicators in the TME, delivering nucleic acids and proteins.
- EVs, as natural nanosystems, possess inherent targeting capabilities due to their composition mirroring parent cells.
- Evidence suggests macrophage EVs can promote or suppress tumor growth depending on macrophage polarization (M1/M2).
Conclusions:
- Macrophage-derived EVs are significant players in cancer progression and TME modulation.
- These EVs hold considerable promise for the development of novel, personalized nanomedicine strategies against cancer.
- Targeting macrophage-derived EVs represents a potential avenue for innovative cancer treatment approaches.
More Related Videos
08:50Scalable Biomanufacturing Workflow to Produce and Isolate Natural Killer Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Based Cancer Biotherapeutics
Published on: August 16, 2024
12:18LINE-1 Methylation Analysis in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Treated with Osteosarcoma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: February 1, 2020
Related Concept Videos
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:36Overview of Exosomes
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...