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Exosomes Derived from Breast Cancer Cells, Small Trojan Horses?

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia volume 19, pages 303–313 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted to the extracellular environment by several cell types, including tumor cells. It has been demonstrated that exosomes have an important role in intercellular communication, but they have recently been implicated in various tumor processes, including the oncogenic transformation of cells in the tumor microenvironment, tumor drug resistance, and the transport of tumor factors. Tumors appear to use exosomes to dialogue with and transform neighboring cells to create an ideal environment for their growth and expansion. On the other hand, the structure and function of exosomes may make them useful in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, because they contain molecules that could serve as biomarkers, including oncogenes, miRNAs, and certain proteins. They have the ability to travel via body fluids, from which they could be isolated and used to transport drugs to specific targets. This review aims to provide an update on the role of exosomes derived from breast cancer cells.

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Abbreviations

ADSC:

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells

AREG:

Amphiregulin

CAF:

Cancer-associated fibroblasts

CCL5:

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5

CD:

Cluster differentiation

CTC:

Circulating tumor cells

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

EGFR:

Epidermal growth factor receptor

EpCAM:

Epithelial cellular adhesion molecule

ERK:

Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase

FAK:

Focal adhesion kinase

FN:

Fibronectin

HB-EGF:

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor

HER2:

Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2

HGF:

Hepatocyte growth factor

HIF:

Hypoxia-inducible factor

HLA:

Human leukocyte antigen

HRG:

Heregulin

HSP:

Heat shock proteins

hTERT:

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase

MAC:

Membrane attack complex

MDR:

Multidrug resistance

MVB:

Multivesicular body

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PCP:

Planar cellular polarity

SDF:

Stromal cell-derived factor

TGF:

Transforming growth factor

tTG:

Tissue transglutaminase

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Regional Government of Andalusia (Project P11-CTS-7651 and assistance to the CTS-107 and CTS-183 groups).

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Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain

    Alejandro Villagrasa, Pablo Juan Álvarez, Antonia Aránega & Fernando Rodríguez-Serrano

  2. Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Antonio Osuna

  3. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, 18014, Granada, Spain

    Jose Manuel Garrido

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  1. Alejandro Villagrasa
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  2. Pablo Juan Álvarez
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Correspondence to Fernando Rodríguez-Serrano.

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Villagrasa, A., Álvarez, P.J., Osuna, A. et al. Exosomes Derived from Breast Cancer Cells, Small Trojan Horses?. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 19, 303–313 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-015-9332-5

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Keywords

  • Exosomes
  • Biomarker
  • Breast cancer
  • Intercellular communication
  • Metastasis
  • Oncogenic transformation