Roles of exosomes in the carcinogenesis and clinical therapy of non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer, with about 85% being non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is one of the most common malignant tumors and the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women. Exosomes are defined as extracellular vesicles with a diameter of 30-100 nm, containing proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, etc., which are secreted by various cells in the microenvironment. Increasing evidences implicate that exosomes act as important molecular vehicles participating in physiological and pathological processes, such as tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy in a number of human cancers including NSCLC. The aim of this review is to disclose the function of exosomes in NSCLC carcinogenesis, and discuss the potential clinical significance in the diagnosis, prognosis and of treatment NSCLC.