Seminar

Cancer exosomes: Vesicular communication that aids tumour growth

Aled Clayton, PhD

Exosomes are nanometre sized membrane vesicles, produced by most if not all cell types. Their complex roles in intercellular communication are now becoming broadly appreciated, but our understanding of their importance in health and disease remains lacking. Our laboratory has been examining the function(s) of cancer cell exosomes for some years, aiming to better appreciate how such exosomes may assist tumour cells in manipulating their microenvironment. Evidence for a role in tumour immune evasion will be presented, highlighting several distinct mechanisms, and in particular, the importance of exosomally associated TGF-beta will be discussed. This vesicular mode of growth factor dissemination is also relevant for activating tumour associated stroma, and some recent data revealing a unique-form of myofibroblast with pro-angiogenic features will be described.