Advances in extracellular Vesicle-based cancer precision medicine

Abstract

Cancer precision medicine has spurred tremendous research interest in recent years. An emerging field in cancer therapy utilizes extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are natural nanoparticles that are now recognized as key players in intercellular communication. With targeting potential and their inherent ability to transport molecules, EVs demonstrate great promise in the field of drug delivery. Targeted oncotherapy aims to hit the cancer's bull's eye while avoiding off-target effects associated with traditional treatment strategies. However, the dynamic nature of cancer cells limits the effectiveness of treatment based solely on cancer antigens. The tumour microenvironment is an important factor in cancer development and progression, providing yet another means to target. In this review, we discuss potential tumour microenvironment-associated antigens that have been tested in preclinical and clinical trials. We also discuss how EVs could be engineered to target these antigens in a multi-armed cancer therapy.