Role of exosomes in modulating non-small cell lung cancer radiosensitivity

Front Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 16:15:1471476. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1471476. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes a significant proportion of lung cancer cases, and despite advancements in treatment modalities, radiotherapy resistance remains a substantial hurdle in effective cancer management. Exosomes, which are small vesicles secreted by cells, have emerged as pivotal players in intercellular communication and influence various biological processes, including cancer progression and the response to therapy. This review discusses the intricate role of exosomes in the modulation of NSCLC radiosensitivity. The paper focuses on NSCLC and highlights how tumor-derived exosomes contribute to radioresistance by enhancing DNA repair, modulating immune responses, and altering the tumor microenvironment. We further explore the potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes to overcome radiotherapy resistance and their potential as biomarkers for predicting therapeutic outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms by which exosomes affect radiotherapy can provide new avenues for enhancing treatment efficacy and improving the survival rates of patients with NSCLC.

Keywords: cancer; exosomes; non-small cell lung cancer; radioresistance; radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82100115) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei (2024AFB694) to CW, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82303833) to XR and the Open Research Fund of Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology (2024ZLJZFL002) to RZ.