Aethlon Medical Inc (AEMD)

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Exosomes and melanoma - some strong research linking exosomes to the spread of melanoma!


Exosomes released by melanoma cells prepare sentinel lymph nodes for tumor metastasis

Joshua L Hood1,*,
Susana San Roman1, and
Samuel A Wickline2

+ Author Affiliations

1C-TRAIN, Washington University in Saint Louis


2Washington University, St. Louis

*?Corresponding Author:
Joshua L Hood, C-TRAIN, Washington University in Saint Louis, 4320 Forest Park Avenue, Suite 101, Campus Box 8215, Saint Louis, MO, 63108, United States [e-mail]


Abstract

Exosomes are naturally occurring biological nanovesicles utilized by tumors to communicate signals to local and remote cells and tissues. Melanoma exosomes can incite a pro-angiogenic signaling program capable of remodeling tissue matrices. In this study, we demonstrate exosome-mediated conditioning of lymph nodes and define microanatomic responses that license metastasis of melanoma cells. Homing of melanoma exosomes to sentinel lymph nodes imposes synchronized molecular signals that effect melanoma cell recruitment, extracellular matrix deposition and vascular proliferation in the lymph nodes. Our findings highlight the pathophysiological role and mechanisms of an exosome mediated process of microanatomical niche preparation that facilitates lymphatic metastasis by cancer cells.
Received December 9, 2010.
Revision received March 7, 2011.
Accepted March 27, 2011.
Copyright © 2011, American Association for Cancer Research.