Open AccessRole of exosomal miR‑21 in the tumor microenvironment and osteosarcoma tumorigenesis and progression (Review)
Author(s) -
Shoufeng Wang,
Fengwang Ma,
Yi Feng,
Tang Liu,
Shasha He
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.405
H-Index - 122
ISSN - 1019-6439
DOI - 10.3892/ijo.2020.4992
Subject(s) - osteosarcoma , tumor microenvironment , tumor progression , carcinogenesis , angiogenesis , cancer research , cancer , oncogene , microvesicles , biology , metastasis , cancer cell , cancer associated fibroblasts , immune system , microrna , immunology , cell cycle , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor affecting both adolescents and children. Early detection is critical for the effective treatment of the disease. Derived from cancer cells, miR‑21 contained within exosomes in the tumor microenvironment may act on both cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In human serum and plasm, the level of exosomal miR‑21 between osteosarcoma patients and healthy controls differs, supporting the role of miR‑21 as a biomarker for osteosarcoma. The involvement of a number of miR‑21 target genes in tumor progression suggests that miR‑21 may significantly affect the plasticity of cancer cells, leading to tumor progression, metastasis, angiogenesis and immune escape in osteosarcoma. Understanding the biogenesis and functions of exosomal miR‑21 is of great value for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer, including osteosarcoma. The present review discusses the role of miR‑21 in the tumor microenvironment, and in the development and progression of osteosarcoma, with an aim to summarize the functions of this miRNA in cancer.