Role of Exosomes in Crosstalk Between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Cancer Cells

Xi Yang; Yida Li; Liqing Zou; Zhengfei Zhu

doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00356

Role of Exosomes in Crosstalk Between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Cancer Cells

Front Oncol. 2019 May 3:9:356. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00356. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Xi Yang^{1

2}, Yida Li^{1

2}, Liqing Zou^{1

2}, Zhengfei Zhu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important cells of the tumor microenvironment that can communicate with tumor cells through various mechanisms. Recently, increasing studies have found that exosomes transmit biological information by carrying microRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, metabolites, and other substances, and thus exert biological and therapeutic effects. CAF-secreted exosomes can also affect the tumor phenotype, while the exosomes released by tumor cells can activate CAFs. Here, we review the role of exosomes in the crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells and elaborate its mechanism.

Keywords: cancer-associated fibroblasts; crosstalk; exosomes; lncRNA; microRNA.

Publication types

Review