Protocol for isolating extracellular vesicles from pancreatic cancer cells for liver metastatic niche research

STAR Protoc. 2024 Sep 20;5(3):103256. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103256. Epub 2024 Aug 13.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted, cell-derived, membrane-bound compartments implicated in various diseases for their ability to influence distant targets and as carriers of biomarkers. Here, we present a protocol for separating EVs from mammalian pancreatic cancer cells and their characterization using western blot and electron microscopy. We then demonstrate how they are utilized to affect tumor development in a murine model of metastatic pancreatic cancer including a method to quantify hepatic tumor burden in histologic samples. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Dudgeon et al.1.

Keywords: Cancer; Cell Biology; Molecular Biology.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Mice
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology