The Role of Cancer Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Progression

Figure 3

CSC-Exos are involved in cancer metastasis and infiltration. Exosomes derived from renal clear carcinoma (RCC) stem cells carry miR-19b-3p, which inhibits the expression of PTEN in the cell and mediates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to promote cancer metastasis. Melanoma cell-derived exosomes carry let-7a and miR-191, which activate MAPK signaling to mediate EMT to promote metastasis. miR-140-3p in exosomes secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells can inhibit MAPK/ERK pathway activity and increase the expression of vimentin and N-cadherin to induce EMT and tumor metastasis. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell-derived exosomes facilitate metastasis by regulating adhesion of circulating tumor cells and inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via SMAD3 signaling in liver cancer. Exosomes secreted by prostate cancer (PC) cells contain miR-940, which acts on ARHGAP1 and FAM134A in osteoblasts to promote the formation of a bone metastatic microenvironment.