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Elevated Circulating Extracellular Vesicles as Prognostic Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer Progression
Helder Costa Drumond1,2, Marina Malheiros Araújo Silvestrini1, Liliane Martins Dos Santos1
1Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil.
Biomedicines
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) are elevated in cervical cancer patients, with specific EV types correlating with disease stage and survival outcomes. This suggests EVs could serve as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cervical cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Extracellular Vesicles Research
Background:
- Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Current diagnostic and prognostic tools for cervical cancer have limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and accessibility.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as potential minimally invasive biomarkers reflecting disease status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate circulating EV levels and their cellular origins in cervical cancer patients across different clinical stages and outcomes.
- To assess the potential of these EVs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cervical cancer.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of peripheral blood samples from 96 cervical cancer patients and 31 healthy controls.
- Isolation, quantification, and immunophenotyping of EVs using flow cytometry to identify cell-specific markers.
- Comparative analysis of EV profiles against clinical stages, histopathological grades, and patient survival outcomes, employing machine learning approaches.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated total circulating EV levels were observed in cervical cancer patients compared to controls.
- Marked increases in EVs derived from neutrophils, T lymphocytes, leukocytes, platelets, monocytes, and endothelial cells were detected in patients.
- Erythrocyte-derived EVs showed a significant association with improved survival outcomes, while total EV levels correlated with advanced stages and specific tumor grades.
Conclusions:
- Circulating EVs represent promising non-invasive biomarkers for cervical cancer, with distinct EV profiles linked to disease severity and prognosis.
- EV analysis may facilitate patient risk stratification and the development of personalized treatment strategies.
- Further investigation into the molecular cargo of EVs is warranted to understand their role in tumor biology and potential as therapeutic targets.
