Tumor-derived exosomes are enriched in ΔNp73, which promotes oncogenic potential in acceptor cells and correlates with patient survival

Tumor-derived exosomes are emerging as local and systemic cell-to-cell mediators of oncogenic information through the horizontal transfer of mRNAs, microRNAs and proteins during tumorigenesis. The exosomal content has been described as biologically active when taken up by the recipient cell. Identifying the specific molecular cargo of exosomes will help to determine their function in specific steps of the tumorigenic process.

Here researchers at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda evaluate whether ΔNp73 is selectively packaged in tumor-derived exosomes, its function in the acceptor cells in vitro and in vivo and its prognosis potential in cancer. ΔNp73 messenger is enriched in tumor-derived exosomes, suggesting its active sorting in these microvesicles. They observed the transmission of this exosome cargo to different cell types and how it confers proliferation potential and chemoresistance to the acceptor cells in vitro and in animal models. Finally, their data support the potential prognostic value of exosomal ΔNp73 in colon cancer patients.

• Soldevilla B, Rodríguez M, San Millán C, García V, Fernández-Periañez R, Gil-Calderón B, Martín P, García-Grande A, Silva J, Bonilla F, Domínguez G. (2013) Tumor-derived exosomes are enriched in ΔNp73, which promotes oncogenic potential in acceptor cells and correlates with patient survival. Hum Mol Genet [Epub ahead of print]. [abstract]