Extracellular vesicles in uveal melanoma - Biological roles and diagnostic value

Uveal melanoma (UM), which originates from the uveal tract of the eye, is the most common and aggressive intraocular cancer in adults. The detection of genetic markers is crucial for an accurate diagnosis, but this requires tumor biopsies that can be challenging to obtain. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as potential biomarkers for UM due to their presence in biological fluids and their ability to carry disease-related biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Increasing evidence indicates that EVs released from UM cells play crucial roles in UM development, including cancer progression, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. Moreover, many studies have demonstrated that UM-derived EVs carry proteins and microRNAs that might be used as biomarkers. This review explores the role of EVs in UM, focusing on their biological functions and their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of UM. Additionally, current challenges to the use of UM-derived EVs in clinical translation were identified, as well as perspectives and future directions in the field.