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Shephard et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:288-301 Journal of
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2017.32
Cancer Metastasis and Treatment

www.jcmtjournal.com
Topic: How does the prostate cancer microenvironment affect Topic: Open Access
the metastatic process and/or treatment outcome?

Prostate cancer exosomes as modulators of
the tumor microenvironment

Alex P. Shephard*, Vincent Yeung*, Aled Clayton, Jason P. Webber
Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Velindre Cancer Centre, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2TL, UK.
*The first two authors contributed equally to this paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jason P. Webber, Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Velindre Cancer Centre,
Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2TL, UK. E-mail: WebberJP@Cardiff.ac.uk

How to cite this article: Shephard AP, Yeung V, Clayton A, Webber JP. Prostate cancer exosomes as modulators of the tumor microenvironment. J
Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:288-301.
ABSTRACT
Article history: Researchers are currently trying to understand why some men with prostate cancer go
Received: 15 May 2017 on to develop aggressive disease whilst others maintain slow growing tumors. Although
First Decision: 7 Jul 2017 endogenous genetic anomalies within the tumor cell are important, the prevailing view
Revised: 30 Jul 2017 is that the tissue microenvironment as a whole is the determinant factor. Many studies
Accepted: 14 Aug 2017 have focussed on the role of soluble factors in modulating the nature of the tumor
Published: 6 Dec 2017 microenvironment. There is however a growing interest in the role of extracellular
vesicles, including exosomes, as regulators of disease progression. A variety of resident
Key words:
Exosomes, cells, as well as infiltrating cells, all contribute to a heterogeneous population of
exosomes within the tumor microenvironment. Studies focussing on the role of exosomes
prostate cancer,
microenvironment, in prostate cancer are however relatively rare. In this review, evidence from various
cancers, including prostate, is used to present numerous potential roles of exosomes in
angiogenesis, prostate cancer. Whilst further validation of some functions may remain necessary it is
stroma, clear that exosomes play a major role in intercellular communication between various
myeloid, cell types within the tumor microenvironment and are necessary for driving disease
matrix metalloproteinases, progression.
metabolism

INTRODUCTION this difference between slow growing, indolent tumors,
and the aggressive disease. Many of these studies
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer have focussed on the role of soluble growth factors
to affect men in the UK. Current survival rates as modulators of the tumor microenvironment thereby
suggest that of those men who develop the disease supporting aggressive metastatic forms of the disease.
approximately eighty four percent will survive for 10 There is, however, a growing precedent to explore the
or more years. For some men, however, the disease role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in this process.
is far more aggressive. Ongoing studies are in place
to try to understand the mechanisms responsible for All cells are capable of secreting vesicles into the
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