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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

A Preclinical Mouse Model of Osteosarcoma to Define the Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication Between Tumor and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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Published on: May 6, 2018

Decoding metastasis initiation through spatiotemporal extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular signaling.

Nao Nishida-Aoki¹, Takahiro Ochiya²

¹Waseda Institute for Advanced Study, Waseda University, 1-21-1 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0051, Japan.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

|May 15, 2026

Summary

Metastatic colonization relies on early communication between tumor cells and their environment, mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). Understanding EV delivery to specific cells is key for developing new cancer therapies.

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Assessing Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis Doorway-Mediated Vascular Permeability Associated with Cancer Cell Dissemination using Intravital Imaging and Fixed Tissue Analysis

Published on: June 26, 2019

Area of Science:

Oncology
Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Metastatic colonization begins with interactions between disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) and the tissue microenvironment.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are critical mediators of early intercellular communication, influencing distant organs before and after DTC arrival.
Current understanding of cancer EV delivery lacks spatiotemporal resolution and physiological context.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a framework for decoding metastatic colonization as spatiotemporally orchestrated EV-mediated intercellular signaling.
To highlight the importance of EV distribution, tropism, and recipient-cell responses in defining DTC fate.
To discuss how integrating advanced models and technologies can advance the study of EV communication in metastasis.

Main Methods:

Utilizing organotypic ex vivo models that mimic physiological metastatic environments.
Employing innovative EV labeling and tracking technologies for direct visualization.
Developing a conceptual framework to analyze EV-mediated signaling in metastasis.

Main Results:

EVs play a crucial role in conditioning distant organs for metastatic colonization.
EV distribution and tropism are key determinants of DTC fate.
Integrating advanced models and tracking technologies enables visualization of EV transfer in native-like tissues.

Conclusions:

Metastatic colonization can be decoded as a spatiotemporally orchestrated EV-mediated intercellular signaling process.
Understanding EV delivery dynamics is essential for targeting metastatic disease.
Emerging platforms offer new avenues for therapeutic development targeting EV communication in cancer metastasis.