TITLE:
Microvesicles in Gliomas and Medulloblastomas: An Overview
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Nawaz, Farah Fatima, Bruna Riedo Zanetti, Isabela de Lima Martins, Nathalia Lopes Schiavotelo, Niele Dias Mendes, Renata Nacasaki Silvestre, Luciano Neder
KEYWORDS:
Microvesicles; Exosomes; Microparticles; Gliomas; Glioblastomas; Medulloblastomas; Oligodendrogliomas; Review
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.5 No.2,
February
12,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Microvesicles (MVs) or shedding
membrane vesicles have recently been described as a novel model of intercellular communication. Previously, MVs were
considered as unnecessary or secreted cellular debris, but MVs have lately been
described as having roles in a variety of biological functions, such as cell
homeostasis and the cellular processes involved in the oncogenesis of many
types of tumors. Carrying several key molecules that contribute to tumor
development and progression, similar to mRNAs, microRNAs and other non-coding
RNAs, DNA and even small proteins, MVs can
be considered as a ubiquitous form of novel cell
communication that is present in most somatic cells. Although tumor-derived MVs
have been demonstrated in different types of cancers, the literature data on
MVs in primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are relatively scarce. In
this review, we address the involvement of MVs in diffuse astrocytomas,
particularly glioblastomas, as well as oligodendrogliomas and medulloblastomas.
We placed particular focus on the
cellular crosstalk between tumor and “normal” cells, the putative mechanisms
how the tumor microenvironment is modulated and the spread of aggressive
phenotypes. Additionally, a better understanding of the participation of
tumor-derived MVs in the regulation of key cancer pathways will offer new
insights into tumor pathogenesis and the mechanisms of multidrug resistance,
and may help to develop new strategies for novel therapies against these
infiltrative CNS tumors.