Effective biomarkers that guide therapeutics with limited adverse effects, have emerged as attractive research topics in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Cancer-derived exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicles representing molecular signatures of cells of origin, could serve as stable reservoirs for potential biomarkers (i.e., proteins, nucleic acids) in non-invasive cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, the physiological and pathological roles of exosomes and their protein components in facilitating tumorigenesis are highlighted. Exosomes carrying proteins can participate in tumor development and progression through multiple signaling pathways, including EMT, invasion and metastasis. Meanwhile, the practical applications of exosomal proteins in detecting and monitoring several solid-tumor cancers (including lung, breast, pancreatic, colorectal and prostate cancers) were also summarized. More clinically relevant, exosomal proteins play pivotal roles in transmitting oncogenic potential or resistance to therapies in recipient cells, which might further support therapeutic strategy determinations.
Keywords: Exosome; cancer drug resistance; protein biomarker; tumor diagnosis; tumor-derived exosome.
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