Are There Therapeutic Applications of Exosomes in Cancer?
The use of exosomes in cancer therapy is an emerging field with several promising applications:
1. Drug Delivery: Exosomes can be engineered to carry therapeutic agents directly to cancer cells, minimizing side effects and enhancing the efficacy of treatment. 2. Immunotherapy: Exosomes can be loaded with tumor antigens to stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. Dendritic cell-derived exosomes, for instance, have been shown to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes capable of targeting cancer cells. 3. Gene Therapy: Exosomes can be used to deliver genetic material, such as siRNA or CRISPR components, to silence oncogenes or repair tumor-suppressor genes.
