1. Exosomes: an overview of biogenesis, composition and role in ovarian cancer.
- Author
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Beach, Allison, Zhang, Huang-Ge, Ratajczak, Mariusz Z., and Kakar, Sham S.
- Subjects
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EXOSOMES , *OVARIAN cancer , *CELL membrane formation , *CELL proliferation , *CANCER diagnosis , *RNA , *MICRORNA - Abstract
Exosomes are tiny membrane-bound vesicles that are over produced by most proliferating cell types during normal and pathological states. Their levels are up-regulated during pregnancy and disease states such as cancer. Exosomes contain a wide variety of proteins, lipids, RNAs, non-transcribed RNAs, microRNAs and small RNAs that are representative to their cellular origin and shuttle from a donor cell to a recipient cell. From intercellular communication to tumor proliferation, exosomes carry out a diverse range of functions, both helpful and harmful. Useful as biomarkers, exosomes may be applicable in diagnostic assessments as well as cell-free anti-tumor vaccines. Exosomes of ovarian cancer contain different set of proteins and miRNAs compared to exosomes of normal, cancer-free individuals. These molecules may be used as multiple "barcode" for the development of a diagnostic tool for early detection of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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