Open AccessRole of exosomal long non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer
Author(s) -
Ruopeng Sun,
Xiaoyun He,
Cheng Mei,
Chunlin Ou
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1948-5204
DOI - 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i8.867
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , long non coding rna , oncology , coding (social sciences) , cancer research , cancer , rna , genetics , gene , biology , statistics , mathematics
Exosomes are a class of small extracellular vesicles, 30-150 nm in diameter, that transfer biological information ( e.g. , DNA, RNA, and protein) via cell-to-cell communication. Exosomes play critical roles in the occurrence and development of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be encapsulated in exosomes, which transfer lncRNAs from secretory cells into recipient cells. This process affects the progression of CRC, since exosomal lncRNAs display special and extensive functions in CRC tumorigenesis, including malignant proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, and inflammatory response. Moreover, due to their specificity and sensitivity, exosomal lncRNAs are released into body fluids ( e.g. , urine, sputum, and plasma), which have the potential to be biomarkers of CRC tumorigenesis within screening efforts and medical and epidemiologic research. In this review, we aim to clarify the function and mechanism of exosomal lncRNAs in CRC tumorigenesis and provide a strategy for early diagnosis and medical treatment of this malignancy.