Participation of suicide gene extracellular vesicles in metastasis prevention.

Abstract

The incidence of distant metastases is associated with most cancer-related mortalities. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), secreted from tumors and cancer-associated fibroblasts, are involved in the metastatic process mediating their organotropism through their involvement in the pre-metastatic niche formation. We have been developing suicide gene therapy mediated by EVs secreted from mesenchymal stem/ stromal cells, tumor cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Suicide gene EVs conjugated with prodrug are tumor tropic, penetrate tumor cells, and kill them by intracellular conversion of nontoxic prodrug to an efficient anti-cancer drug. Here, we discuss findings regarding the possibility of using suicide gene EVs as a novel therapeutic approach for metastases, via pre-metastatic niche modification. The suicide gene EVs provide a future perspective for metastasis prevention.