Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025

An Enrichment Method for Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Liver Cancer Tissue
Published on: February 3, 2023
Exploring the Impact of Exercise-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Biology
Monica Silvestri1, Elisa Grazioli2, Guglielmo Duranti3
1Unit of Biology and Genetics of Movement, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, 00135 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Cancer remains a major challenge in medicine, prompting exploration of innovative therapies. Recent studies suggest that exercise-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) may offer potential anti-cancer benefits. These small, membrane-bound particles, including exosomes, carry bioactive molecules such as proteins and RNA that mediate intercellular communication. Exercise has been shown to increase EV secretion, influencing physiological processes like tissue repair, inflammation, and metabolism. Notably, preclinical studies have demonstrated that exercise-derived EVs can inhibit tumor growth, reduce metastasis, and enhance treatment response. For instance, in a study using animal models, exercise-derived EVs were shown to suppress tumor proliferation in breast and colon cancers. Another study reported that these EVs reduced metastatic potential by decreasing the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Additionally, exercise-induced EVs have been found to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by sensitizing tumor cells to treatment. This review highlights the emerging role of exercise-derived circulating biomolecules, particularly EVs, in cancer biology. It discusses the mechanisms through which EVs impact cancer progression, the challenges in translating preclinical findings to clinical practice, and future research directions. Although research in this area is still limited, current findings suggest that EVs could play a crucial role in spreading molecules that promote better health in cancer patients. Understanding these EV profiles could lead to future therapies, such as exercise mimetics or targeted drugs, to treat cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Exosomes
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
The Tumor Microenvironment
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

