Extracellular Vesicles in Osteosarcoma: Mechanisms, Diagnostics and Therapeutic Applications

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Osteosarcoma is a heterogeneous bone cancer with poor outcomes, especially with metastasis.
• Current treatments have plateaued, necessitating novel therapeutic targets.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized for their role in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in osteosarcoma (OS) progression and metastasis.
• To explore the potential of EVs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic agents in osteosarcoma.
• To highlight future research directions for harnessing EVs in osteosarcoma treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating extracellular vesicles in osteosarcoma.
• Analysis of EV cargo (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids) and their impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME).
• Evaluation of clinical applications of EVs, including liquid biopsies and drug delivery systems.

Main Results:

• EVs mediate osteosarcoma progression by promoting immune evasion, angiogenesis, invasion, and pre-metastatic niche formation.
• EV cargo drives intercellular communication, supporting proliferation, migration, and therapy resistance.
• EVs show promise as stable, tumor-specific biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Extracellular vesicles are critical mediators of osteosarcoma progression and metastasis.
• EVs hold significant potential as liquid biopsy biomarkers and as platforms for targeted therapeutics.
• Further research integrating multi-omics and clinical validation is crucial for translating EV potential into improved osteosarcoma outcomes.