Clinical Utility of Exosomal Micrornas for Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Exosomes are nanometer-sized membrane vesicles secreted by normal or cancer cells, which participate in intercellular communication by transporting RNAs and proteins. Recent studies have found that some differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes play key roles in the initiation and development of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) and are potential candidates for CRC detection. In this review, we describe the role of exosomal miRNAs in the development of CRC. We also briefly summarize the methods used for exosome extraction and enrichment. Finally, we examine the potential roles of exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of and prognostic assessment of CRC, as well as novel molecules for targeted therapy