Research topics - Extracellular vesicles as mediators and biomarkers in prostate cancer
The team reported that prostate cancer cells produce extracellular vesicles or exosomes that contain miR-424 and circulate in the blood of patients with more advanced and aggressive prostate cancers. Exosomes containing miR-424 induce stem properties and tumorigenic capacity in prostate epithelial cells and promote tumor growth in preclinical models. These data identify a novel mechanism that promotes prostate cancer progression through the transfer of potent oncogenic effectors via the release of extracellular vesicles, such as miR-424. The group characterizes exosomes isolated from plasma of patients with tumors at various stages by implement- ing genomics and proteomics analyses and biochemical and molecular studies. These studies contribute to the understanding of the properties and content (cargo) of exosomes and their use for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
