Exosomes as a Multicomponent Biomarker Platform in Cancer

Exosomes are a subtype of EVs that utilize the endosomal pathway for their biogenesis. Exosome biogenesis likely partakes in sampling cellular physiology, intersecting with multiple organelles and capturing unique cytosolic components. Exosome cargo is diverse, and a pool of exosomes can represent all cellular constituents of a cell, including protein, nucleic acids, metabolites, and lipids. Exosome cargo can capture cancer cell complexity and enable the measurement of multiple biological components shed by cancer cells. Challenges in adopting exosomes as biomarkers include lack of consistency in establishing high-throughput methodologies for their enrichment and definition in biological fluids. Large-scale validation studies using multiple exosome-derived biological readouts could offer significant insight into cancer monitoring and diagnosis. Cancer is a complex disease that is associated with genetic aberrations and subsequent cellular and noncellular host responses. Tumors harbor diverse cell types that engage in a dynamic interplay to sustain cancer-specific signaling networks. A component of such cellular communication is the production and exchange of various types of extracellular vesicle (EV). Exosomes are small EVs with growing recognition for their role in cancer progression and resistance to therapy. The unique biogenesis of exosomes, their ubiquitous production by all cell types, and their biological features in liquid biopsies have generated excitement for their potential as cancer biomarkers. Here, we discuss the challenges and utility of exosomes as multiparameter biomarker platforms for the detection of cancer. Exosomes reflect heterogeneous biological changes associated with growing tumors, potentially offering a more comprehensive assessment of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and progression. Cancer is a complex disease that is associated with genetic aberrations and subsequent cellular and noncellular host responses. Tumors harbor diverse cell types that engage in a dynamic interplay to sustain cancer-specific signaling networks. A component of such cellular communication is the production and exchange of various types of extracellular vesicle (EV). Exosomes are small EVs with growing recognition for their role in cancer progression and resistance to therapy. The unique biogenesis of exosomes, their ubiquitous production by all cell types, and their biological features in liquid biopsies have generated excitement for their potential as cancer biomarkers. Here, we discuss the challenges and utility of exosomes as multiparameter biomarker platforms for the detection of cancer. Exosomes reflect heterogeneous biological changes associated with growing tumors, potentially offering a more comprehensive assessment of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and progression.