Exosomes in esophageal cancer: Promising nanocarriers in cancer progression, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy

Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2024 Sep-Oct;16(5):e1989. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1989.

Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most fatal cancers all over the world. Sensitive detection modalities for early-stage EC and efficient treatment methods are urgently needed for the improvement of the prognosis of EC. Exosomes are small vesicles for intercellular communication, mediating many biological responses including cancer progression, which are not only promising biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis but also therapeutic tools for EC. This review provides an overview of the relationships between exosomes and EC progression, as well as the application of exosomes in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of EC. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Keywords: cancer progression; diagnosis; esophageal cancer; exosomes; prognosis; therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Disease Progression*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Exosomes* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Drug Carriers