Exosomes-based cell-free cancer therapy: a novel strategy for targeted therapy

Exosomes are cell-derived nano-sized, phospholipid vehicles that function to transport prodigious amounts of bioactive molecules to specific recipient tissues. Several hallmarks of cancer are impacted by this exosome-mediated cell-to-cell communication, including, remodeling the architecture of the extracellular matrix, endowing cancer cells with characteristics of drug resistance, or even modulating immune responses. Owing to their immunomodulatory potential and endogenous functionalities, exosomes may also be exploited in various innovative immunological approaches to activate adaptive and innate immune effector cells to mount an effective anticancer immunosurveillance. The review highlights the recent advances in state-of-the-art technologies and protocols for using exosomes as an effective and promising application for cancer immunotherapy.