Extracellular vesicles in cancer: biogenesis, oncogenic mechanisms, biomarker potential, and therapeutic applications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have a significant impact on the process of intercellular communication as well as they also help in the transport of a broad variety of molecules, like lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, across single to different cells. They contribute to cancer progression by transferring oncogenic proteins, microRNAs, and signaling molecules that promote uncontrolled proliferation, angiogenesis, and suppression of anti-tumor immunity. There is a significant amount of interest among researchers in exosomes, which are a kind of EVs. Exosomes are extremely promising as drug-delivery vehicles, especially in cancer treatment, because they are naturally compatible with living systems, structurally stable, and able to target specific cells. The phospholipid bilayer membrane enables drugs to be delivered to specific cells, allowing therapeutic molecules to reach those cells more easily. Using EVs to deliver drugs is a new idea that might completely change how cancer is treated. Exosome biogenesis, origins, isolation, association with cancer, exosome-related cancer biomarkers, exosome-based biomolecule delivery, advancements, and limits of exosome-based drug delivery systems are regarded as main topics via this review. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the exosome-based understanding of cancer will alter future diagnostic and treatment strategies.