Functions and Clinical Applications of Exosomes in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a common and highly invasive type of malignant tumor, the pathogenesis of which remains unclarified. However, exosomes are now known to play important roles in gastric cancer development and treatment. Cells use exosomes for the packaging and transportation of a variety of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, double-stranded DNA, and micro-ribonucleic acids, to other sites. Exosome-specific membrane structures and exosomal contents are widely involved in processes that facilitate material exchange and intercellular communication between gastric cancer cells. They help in forming a pre-metastatic microenvironment, promoting the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, and driving invasion, metastasis, and resistance to anti-tumor drugs. In this review, we aimed to summarize the findings of research articles indexed in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases and published up to May 31, 2024, on the role of exosomes in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and their potential clinical applications in its treatment. Thus, research on exosomes may lead to breakthroughs in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer and identification of novel treatments.