Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Cancer Progression and Cancer Therapy

Theresa L. Whiteside

Exosomes are the smallest extracellular vesicles (EV) produced under physiological and pathological conditions by all cells and present in all body fluids. They are critical components of the intercellular communication network. Tumor cells release exosomes which are enriched in immunosuppressive molecules as well as biologically-active soluble factors and enzymes. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) interact with immune effector cells in the tumor microenvironment and in the circulation, deliver negative signals to these cells and interfere with their anti-tumor functions. By suppressing functions of immune effector cells, TEX promote tumor progression and facilitate tumor escape from the immune system. Thus, TEX can be viewed as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Silencing of TEX-mediated immune inhibition without disrupting the physiologically important cellular communication networks represents a considerable challenge. Current efforts are directed at achieving a better understanding of the role exosomes play in cancer progression and/or outcome and of molecular/genetic mechanisms responsible for immunoinhibitory activity of TEX.