Exosomes and epigenetics in tumor growth and metastasisation

Exosomes (and extracellular vesicles in general) released in the tumor microenvironment play a pivotal role in the cross-talk between cancer and stromal cells, influencing the growth and invasive behavior of the tumor cells and the phenoconversion of fibroblasts, adipocytes, and macrophages. Exosomes contain non-coding RNAs, cytokines, and metabolite intermediates that impinge on the metabolism as well as on the gene expression of the recipient cells. Of relevance for metastasisation is the epigenetic modulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes regulating cell motility and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). This Special Issue will collect review and research articles reporting on the biogenesis, content, release, and role of exosomes in the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on the induction of epigenetic changes associated with the malignant behavior of cancer cells.

01/06/2025