Deciphering the Functional Status of Breast Cancers through the Analysis of Their Extracellular Vesicles

Author(s)

Carrasco, Alexis German Murillo ; Otake, Andreia Hanada ; Macedo-da-Silva, Janaina ; Santiago, Veronica Feijoli ; Palmisano, Giuseppe ; Andrade, Luciana Nogueira de Sousa ; Chammas, Roger

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 24, n. 16, p. 33-pg., 2023-08-01.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) accounts for the highest incidence of tumor-related mortality among women worldwide, justifying the growing search for molecular tools for the early diagnosis and follow-up of BC patients under treatment. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous nanocompartments produced by all human cells, including tumor cells. Since minimally invasive methods collect EVs, which represent reservoirs of signals for cell communication, these particles have attracted the interest of many researchers aiming to improve BC screening and treatment. Here, we analyzed the cargoes of BC-derived EVs, both proteins and nucleic acids, which yielded a comprehensive list of potential markers divided into four distinct categories, namely, (i) modulation of aggressiveness and growth; (ii) preparation of the pre-metastatic niche; (iii) epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; and (iv) drug resistance phenotype, further classified according to their specificity and sensitivity as vesicular BC biomarkers. We discuss the therapeutic potential of and barriers to the clinical implementation of EV-based tests, including the heterogeneity of EVs and the available technologies for analyzing their content, to present a consistent, reproducible, and affordable set of markers for further evaluation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/15549-1 - Post-translational modifications in Chagas Disease biological processes and diagnostics: novel methodological approaches and biological applications
• Grantee: Giuseppe Palmisano
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 18/18257-1 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 14/06863-3: HPLC system configured for analysis of carbohydrates, amino acidis, peptides and glycoproteins
• Grantee: Giuseppe Palmisano
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 20/04923-0 - SARS-CoV-2 glycosylation: a blueprint structural insight for understanding COVID-19 pathogenesis
• Grantee: Giuseppe Palmisano
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/00140-3 - Understanding the role of protein arginylation in health and disease through analytical and biological approaches
• Grantee: Janaína Macedo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/05583-0 - Enrichment of STn/Tn+ tumor-derived extracellular microvesicles for evaluating miRNA-based biomarkers in Breast Cancer patients
• Grantee: Alexis Germán Murillo Carrasco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)