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Exosomes in Cancer: Another Mechanism of Tumor-Induced Immune Suppression

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Book cover Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Cancer Progression and Cancer Therapy

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1036))

Abstract

Exosomes are the smallest extracellular vesicles (EV) produced under physiological and pathological conditions by all cells and present in all body fluids. They are critical components of the intercellular communication network. Tumor cells release exosomes which are enriched in immunosuppressive molecules as well as biologically-active soluble factors and enzymes. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) interact with immune effector cells in the tumor microenvironment and in the circulation, deliver negative signals to these cells and interfere with their anti-tumor functions. By suppressing functions of immune effector cells, TEX promote tumor progression and facilitate tumor escape from the immune system. Thus, TEX can be viewed as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Silencing of TEX-mediated immune inhibition without disrupting the physiologically important cellular communication networks represents a considerable challenge. Current efforts are directed at achieving a better understanding of the role exosomes play in cancer progression and/or outcome and of molecular/genetic mechanisms responsible for immunoinhibitory activity of TEX.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by NIH grants RO-1 CA 168628 and R-21 CA205644 to TLW.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology, Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Theresa L. Whiteside

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  1. Theresa L. Whiteside
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Correspondence to Theresa L. Whiteside .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Pawel Kalinski

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Whiteside, T.L. (2017). Exosomes in Cancer: Another Mechanism of Tumor-Induced Immune Suppression. In: Kalinski, P. (eds) Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Cancer Progression and Cancer Therapy. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1036. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67577-0_6

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