• Recent Advances in the Use of Exosomes for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: From Research to Clinical Trials
  • Dr.Kourosh Shahrak,1 Dr.Paria Ghasemi Boroumand,2 Dr.Hajie Lotfi,3 Dr.Roghayeh Sheervalilou,4,* Dr.Habib Ghaznavi,5 Dr. Saman Sargazi,6
    1. Zahedan University of Medical Sciences
    2. Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
    3. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
    4. Pharmacology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
    5. Pharmacology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
    6. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran


  • Introduction: Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles released by nearly all living cells when multivesicular bodies fuse with the plasma membrane, allowing them to enter surrounding bodily fluids.
  • Methods: This review begins with a detailed overview of exosomes, including their discovery, isolation, characterization, functions, biogenesis, and secretion. It then discusses the potential of exosomes as effective carriers for drug and gene delivery, the use of exosome inhibitors in cancer treatment, and the ongoing clinical trials examining the biological significance of exosomes.
  • Results: These exosomes can carry cell-specific materials from the originating cell to a target cell. Due to their significant potential as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic delivery vehicles, recent research has highlighted the crucial roles exosomes play in prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. Although various reviews have compiled information on the biomedical uses of exosomes, there is a need for a thorough review that includes updated and enhanced methodologies for their beneficial applications in cancer theranostics.
  • Conclusion: As research in this area expands, gaining a deeper understanding of the subcellular components and mechanisms involved in exosome secretion and their targeting of specific cells will clarify their precise physiological roles in the body.
  • Keywords: Exosomes, Cancer, Diagnosis, Treatment, Theranostics