Exploiting Exosomes for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) of endosomal origin involved in a multitude of intercellular communication mechanisms that regulate a vast repertoire of functional outcomes. In addition to the investigation of aspects pertaining to the basic biology of exosomes, a wealth of literature has pinpointed the translational potential of these nanoparticles in cancer. Exosomes derived from patient biofluids can be exploited as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis and to monitor the response to anticancer therapies. Furthermore, exosomes can be engineered and leveraged as therapeutic delivery systems for cancer treatment. In biomedical research, the translational potential of exploiting exosomes for cancer diagnosis and treatment is increasingly appreciated and is the focus of discussion in this chapter.