Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.8
4.4
Journals
Cancers
Special Issues
Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression
cancers-logo
Submit to Cancers Review for Cancers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Tumor Microenvironment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 4747

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Susana García-Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid, Spain
Interests: exosomes; extracellular vesicles; metastasis; tumour immunity; liquid biopsy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogenous group of membrane-bound vesicles secreted by cells across all living kingdoms. They take part in cell-to-cell communication, and the mechanisms, messages and efficiency of this exchange system are currently under extensive investigation as they are involved in multiple physiological, as well as pathological processes.

Remarkably, EV secretion appears to be augmented in tumor cells and has a relevant role in cancer progression, offering a highly effective way to modulate the tumor microenvironment, contributing to the formation of pre-metastatic and metastatic niches, and participating in the tumor–immune landscape cross-talk.

This Special Issue of Cancers seeks original articles and review manuscripts focused on (1) analyzing tumor EV cargo; (2) EV function in the tumor–microenvironment interplay; (3) their role as modulators of pre-metastatic and metastatic niches across various cancer types; (4) the influence of EVs on immune surveillance against tumors; and finally, (5) EV-based biomarkers and therapeutic development in cancer research.

Dr. Susana García-Silva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • extracellular vesicles
  • cancer progression
  • tumor microenvironment
  • tumor–immune landscape cross-talk pre-metastatic and metastatic niches
  • immune surveillance
  • EV-based biomarkers
  • EV-based therapeutic development

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 3072 KiB  
Article
NK3.3-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Penetrate and Selectively Kill Treatment-Resistant Tumor Cells
by Allyson McCune and Jacki Kornbluth
Cancers 2024, 16(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16010090 - 23 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
Cancer treatments often become ineffective due to the development of tumor resistance, leading to metastasis and relapse. Treatments may also fail because of their inability to access cells deep within the tumor tissue. When this occurs, new therapeutic agents are needed. We previously [...] Read more.
Cancer treatments often become ineffective due to the development of tumor resistance, leading to metastasis and relapse. Treatments may also fail because of their inability to access cells deep within the tumor tissue. When this occurs, new therapeutic agents are needed. We previously reported that NK3.3EVs, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the normal human natural killer (NK) cell line, NK3.3, have strong cytotoxic activity against leukemia and breast cancer cell lines, without harming normal cells. Here, we used a three-dimensional (3D) MCF7 breast cancer mammosphere model to reproduce a more physiological environment that NK3.3EVs would encounter in vivo. NK3.3EVs penetrated MCF7 mammospheres, inducing death by apoptosis. We generated an imatinib-resistant K562 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line to investigate whether NK3.3EVs were able to kill tumor cells resistant to front-line chemotherapy. NK3.3EVs were even more cytotoxic to imatinib-resistant cells than parental cells, inducing apoptosis via caspase-3/-7 activation. The small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within tumors also contributes to therapeutic resistance. NK3.3EVs reduced the CSC-like CD34+/CD38− subpopulation in imatinib-resistant and parental K562 cultures and decreased CSC-associated expression of tumor-promoting genes. Our results provide strong evidence that NK3.3EVs may be a potential new immunotherapeutic agent for difficult-to-treat cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 1516 KiB  
Review
Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles in Oncology: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Clinical Applications
by Piyush Bhanu, Andrew K. Godwin, Shahid Umar and Diane E. Mahoney
Cancers 2025, 17(11), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111774 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) have emerged as pivotal mediators of host–microbe interactions, profoundly influencing cancer biology. These nanoscale vesicles, produced by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, carry diverse biomolecular cargo such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites. BEVs play dualistic roles in [...] Read more.
Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) have emerged as pivotal mediators of host–microbe interactions, profoundly influencing cancer biology. These nanoscale vesicles, produced by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, carry diverse biomolecular cargo such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites. BEVs play dualistic roles in tumor promotion and suppression by modulating the tumor microenvironment, immune responses, and genetic regulation. This review synthesizes the current understanding of BEVs in various cancers, including gastrointestinal, ovarian, breast, lung, brain, and renal malignancies. BEVs are highlighted for their potential as diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic agents, including their applications in immunotherapy and advanced engineering for precision medicine. Challenges such as heterogeneity, standardization, and clinical scalability are critically analyzed, with case examples providing actionable insights. Future directions emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations, emerging technologies, and the integration of BEV-based tools into clinical workflows. This review underscores the transformative potential of BEVs in advancing cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, paving the way for innovations in precision oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 2433 KiB  
Review
The Lymphatic Vascular System in Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Tumor Progression
by Pragati Lodha, Alperen Acari, Jochen Rieck, Sarah Hofmann and Lothar C. Dieterich
Cancers 2024, 16(23), 4039; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16234039 - 2 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1579
Abstract
Tumor growth and progression require molecular interactions between malignant and host cells. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerged as an important pillar of such interactions, carrying molecular information from their donor cells to distant recipient cells. Thereby, the phenotype and function of [...] Read more.
Tumor growth and progression require molecular interactions between malignant and host cells. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerged as an important pillar of such interactions, carrying molecular information from their donor cells to distant recipient cells. Thereby, the phenotype and function of the recipient cells are altered, which may facilitate tumor immune escape and tumor metastasis to other organs through the formation of pre-metastatic niches. A prerequisite for these effects of tumor cell-derived EVs is an efficient transport system from the site of origin to the body periphery. Here, we highlight the role of the lymphatic vascular system in the distribution and progression-promoting functions of tumor cell-derived EVs. Importantly, the lymphatic vascular system is the primary drainage system for interstitial fluid and its soluble, particulate, and cellular contents, and therefore represents the principal route for regional (i.e., to tumor-draining lymph nodes) and systemic distribution of EVs derived from solid tumors. Furthermore, recent studies highlighted the tumor-draining lymph node as a crucial site where tumor-derived EVs exert their effects. A deeper mechanistic understanding of how EVs gain access to the lymphatic vasculature, how they interact with their recipient cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes and beyond, and how they induce phenotypic and functional maladaptation will be instrumental to identify new molecular targets and conceive innovative approaches for cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop