细胞外囊泡在头颈部肿瘤中的研究进展

肿瘤的增殖和转移能力是由肿瘤微环境(TME)中细胞间的“相互对话”介导的。细胞外囊泡(EVs)是细胞主动分泌、可以介导细胞间通信的一种囊泡状小体,几乎来自所有类型的细胞,是癌细胞及其微环境之间的关键信号介质,在实现TME细胞间物质转运和信息传递方面发挥着重要作用。肿瘤细胞来源的EVs可以通过激活多种信号通路改变靶细胞生理状态,影响肿瘤微环境等方式参与肿瘤细胞的增殖与迁移。EVs在头颈部肿瘤(HNCs)中的分子机制和临床应用尚处于早期阶段,有待进一步研究。以头颈肿瘤的TME为研究重心,阐明EVs复杂的信号网络参与介导肿瘤增殖、侵袭转移、血管生成和肿瘤耐药的相关机制。

Recent advances regarding extracellular vesicles in head and neck cancers

Proliferation and metastasis of tumors are mediated by “mutual dialogue” between cells in the tumor microenvironment(TME). Extracellular vesicles(EVs), vesicle-like bodies secreted by cells, are involved in intercellular communication and are secreted from almost all cell types. They are the key signal mediators between cancer cells and the TME. They play an important role in transporting molecules between cells in the TME. Tumor cell-derived EVs participate in the proliferation and migration of cancer cells through the activation of various signaling pathways in target cells in the TME. The molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of EVs in head and neck cancers are still largely unknown and need further study. In this review, we discuss the TME of head and neck cancers with emphasis on EV-mediated mechanisms in tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance.