Role of the Exosome in Ovarian Cancer Progression and Its Potential as a Therapeutic Target

Peritoneal disseminationis a distinct form of metastasis in ovarian cancerthat precedes hematogenic or lymphatic metastasis. Exosomesare extracellular vesiclesof 30–150 nm in diameter secreted by different cell types and internalized by target cells. There is emerging evidence that exosomesfacilitate the peritoneal disseminationof ovarian cancerby mediating intercellular communication between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironmentthrough the transfer of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Furthermore, therapeutic applications of exosomesas drug cargo delivery are attracting research interest because exosomesare stabilized in circulation. This review highlights the functions of exosomesin each process of the peritoneal disseminationof ovarian cancerand discusses their potential for cancer therapeutics.