Extracellular vesicles in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health issue, with challenges including early detection and recurrence monitoring. While colonoscopy and fecal-based tests are standard screening tools, their limitations have driven interest in less invasive alternatives. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in patient liquid biopsy samples have emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic tools in CRC. EVs carry molecular cargo, including nucleic acids and proteins, that reflect the status of their cells of origin and can be readily accessed through minimally invasive liquid biopsy. This review outlines the role of EVs in the initiation and progression of CRC, summarizes recent advances in EV isolation techniques, and highlights candidate EV-derived biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. By providing an updated synthesis of current research, this review aims to inform future studies and support clinical translation of EV-based approaches in CRC.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Annals of Coloproctology

• Publication date

  2025-10-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3393/ac.2025.00745.0106PMID 41158051PMCID 12569783
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Enhanced Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer via Blood Biomarker Combinations Identified Through Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and Artificial Intelligence Analysis

  2025influential reference
• Circulating small extracellular vesicle RNA profiling for the detection of T1a stage colorectal cancer and precancerous advanced adenoma

  2024cited by this paper
• Circulating Small Extracellular Vesicle RNA Profiling for the Detection of T1a stage Colorectal Cancer and Precancerous Advanced Adenoma

  2024cited by this paper
• Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

  2024influential reference
• Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries

  2024cited by this paper
• Cancer-derived exosomal lncRNA SNHG3 promotes the metastasis of colorectal cancer through hnRNPC-mediating RNA stability of β-catenin

  2024cited by this paper
• Plasma exosomal protein PLG and SERPINA1 in colorectal cancer diagnosis and coagulation abnormalities

  2023cited by this paper
• An exosome-based liquid biopsy signature for pre-operative identification of lymph node metastasis in patients with pathological high-risk T1 colorectal cancer

  2023cited by this paper
• Exosomes in Colorectal Cancer: From Physiology to Clinical Applications

  2023influential reference
• Colorectal cancer statistics, 2023

  2023cited by this paper
• Watch and wait after neoadjuvant treatment in rectal cancer: comparison of outcomes in patients with and without a complete response at first reassessment in the International Watch & Wait Database (IWWD)

  2023cited by this paper
• Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy

  2022cited by this paper
• Effect of Colonoscopy Screening on Risks of Colorectal Cancer and Related Death.

  2022cited by this paper
• Characterization of blood-derived exosomal hTERT mRNA as a biomarker for colon cancer and Lynch syndrome

  2022cited by this paper
• Exosomal lncRNA PCAT1 Promotes Tumor Circulating Cell-Mediated Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis by Regulating the Activity of the miR-329-3p/Netrin-1-CD146 Complex

  2022cited by this paper
• Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles for the active targeting and effective treatment of colorectal tumors in vivo

  2022cited by this paper
• The diagnostic value of exosomal circular RNAs in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

  2022cited by this paper
• EV-miRome-wide profiling uncovers miR-320c for detecting metastatic colorectal cancer and monitoring the therapeutic response

  2022cited by this paper
• A Diagnostic Model Using Exosomal Genes for Colorectal Cancer

  2022cited by this paper
• Extracellular Vesicle Membrane Protein Profiling and Targeted Mass Spectrometry Unveil CD59 and Tetraspanin 9 as Novel Plasma Biomarkers for Detection of Colorectal Cancer

  2022cited by this paper
• Evaluation of CTB-sLip for Targeting Lung Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

  2022cited by this paper
• Comprehensive proteomic profiling of serum extracellular vesicles in patients with colorectal liver metastases identifies a signature for non-invasive risk stratification and early-response evaluation

  2022cited by this paper
• Early detection of cancer

  2022cited by this paper
• Exosomal circLPAR1 functions in colorectal cancer diagnosis and tumorigenesis through suppressing BRD4 via METTL3–eIF3h interaction

  2022influential reference
• Characterization and modulation of surface charges to enhance extracellular vesicle isolation in plasma

  2022influential reference
• Inhibitory Effect of Oxaliplatin-loaded Engineered Milk Extracellular Vesicles on Tumor Progression

  2022cited by this paper
• Highly‐metastatic colorectal cancer cell released miR‐181a‐5p‐rich extracellular vesicles promote liver metastasis by activating hepatic stellate cells and remodelling the tumour microenvironment

  2022cited by this paper
• Cancer-derived exosomal HSPC111 promotes colorectal cancer liver metastasis by reprogramming lipid metabolism in cancer-associated fibroblasts

  2022cited by this paper
• Cancer-derived exosomal HSPC111 promotes colorectal cancer liver metastasis by reprogramming lipid metabolism in cancer-associated fibroblasts

  2022cited by this paper
• Liquid biopsy enters the clinic — implementation issues and future challenges

  2021influential reference
• Colorectal cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles transfer miR-221-3p to promote endothelial cell angiogenesis via targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling 3.

  2021influential reference
• A high-throughput magneto-electrochemical array for the integrated isolation and profiling of extracellular vesicles from plasma

  2021cited by this paper
• Exosomal miR-208b related with oxaliplatin resistance promotes Treg expansion in colorectal cancer

  2021cited by this paper
• Proteomic Analyses of Fibroblast- and Serum-Derived Exosomes Identify QSOX1 as a Marker for Non-invasive Detection of Colorectal Cancer

  2021cited by this paper
• Hypoxic colorectal cancer‐derived extracellular vesicles deliver microRNA‐361‐3p to facilitate cell proliferation by targeting TRAF3 via the noncanonical NF‐κB pathways

  2021cited by this paper
• A brief history of nearly EV‐erything – The rise and rise of extracellular vesicles

  2021cited by this paper
• Serum exosomal miR-377-3p and miR-381-3p as diagnostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

  2021cited by this paper
• Proteomics-Based Identification of Candidate Exosomal Glycoprotein Biomarkers and Their Value for Diagnosing Colorectal Cancer

  2021cited by this paper
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles Transmitting MicroRNA-34a-5p Suppress Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer Through c-MYC/DNMT3a/PTEN Axis

  2021cited by this paper
• Tumor-Derived Exosomal MicroRNA-106b-5p Activates the Interaction between EMT-Cancer Cells and M2-Subtype TAMs to Facilitate Colorectal Cancer Metastasis.

  2021cited by this paper
• Exosomal LncRNA LINC00659 transferred from cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes colorectal cancer cell progression via miR-342-3p/ANXA2 axis

  2021cited by this paper
• Serum exosomal miR-122 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis

  2020cited by this paper
• A novel three step protocol to isolate extracellular vesicles from plasma or cell culture medium with both high yield and purity

  2020cited by this paper
• Exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuates colorectal cancer liver metastasis by regulating Kupffer cell secretion pattern and impeding MMP9 induced vascular leakiness

  2020cited by this paper
• RNA-Seq Profiling of Serum Exosomal Circular RNAs Reveals Circ-PNN as a Potential Biomarker for Human Colorectal Cancer

  2020cited by this paper
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomal microRNA-3940-5p Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Targeting Integrin α6

  2020cited by this paper
• Exosomal circPACRGL promotes progression of colorectal cancer via the miR-142-3p/miR-506-3p- TGF-β1 axis

  2020cited by this paper
• Liquid Biopsy of Extracellular Vesicle-Derived miR-193a-5p in Colorectal Cancer and Discovery of Its Tumor-Suppressor Functions

  2020cited by this paper
• Exosomal miR-590-3p derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts confers radioresistance in colorectal cancer

  2020cited by this paper
• Exosomal MALAT1 sponges miR-26a/26b to promote the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer via FUT4 enhanced fucosylation and PI3K/Akt pathway

  2020cited by this paper
• CircLONP2 enhances colorectal carcinoma invasion and metastasis through modulating the maturation and exosomal dissemination of microRNA-17

  2020cited by this paper
• Primary tumors release ITGBL1-rich extracellular vesicles to promote distal metastatic tumor growth through fibroblast-niche formation

  2020cited by this paper
• Extracellular vesicle-miRNAs as liquid biopsy biomarkers for disease identification and prognosis in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

  2020cited by this paper
• Colorectal cancer-derived exosomal miR-106b-3p promotes metastasis by downregulating DLC-1 expression.

  2020cited by this paper
• Signature mRNA markers in extracellular vesicles for the accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancer

  2020cited by this paper
• Engineered exosomes for targeted co-delivery of miR-21 inhibitor and chemotherapeutics to reverse drug resistance in colon cancer

  2020cited by this paper
• Stage-Specific Sensitivity of Fecal Immunochemical Tests for Detecting Colorectal Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  2019cited by this paper
• The potential of exosomes derived from colorectal cancer as a biomarker.

  2019cited by this paper
• What is the blood concentration of extracellular vesicles? Implications for the use of extracellular vesicles as blood-borne biomarkers of cancer.

  2019cited by this paper
• Exosomes in the tumor microenvironment as mediators of cancer therapy resistance

  2019cited by this paper
• Circulating long non-coding RNA colon cancer-associated transcript 2 protected by exosome as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer.

  2019cited by this paper
• Serum overexpression of miR-301a and miR-23a in patients with colorectal cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Low level of exosomal long non-coding RNA HOTTIP is a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Downregulation of serum exosomal miR-150-5p is associated with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Long noncoding RNA LINC02418 regulates MELK expression by acting as a ceRNA and may serve as a diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Granulocytic Myeloid‐Derived Suppressor Cells Promote the Stemness of Colorectal Cancer Cells through Exosomal S100A9

  2019cited by this paper
• Long noncoding RNA GAS5 inhibits progression of colorectal cancer by interacting with and triggering YAP phosphorylation and degradation and is negatively regulated by the m6A reader YTHDF3

  2019cited by this paper
• Circulating Exosomal miR-150-5p and miR-99b-5p as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• Identification of Serum Exosomal hsa-circ-0004771 as a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker of Colorectal Cancer

  2019cited by this paper
• LncRNA RPPH1 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by interacting with TUBB3 and by promoting exosomes-mediated macrophage M2 polarization

  2019cited by this paper
• Serum extracellular vesicles contain SPARC and LRG1 as biomarkers of colon cancer and differ by tumour primary location

  2019cited by this paper
• What is the blood concentration of extracellular vesicles? Implications for the use of extracellular vesicles as blood-borne biomarkers of cancer.

  2019cited by this paper
• Biogenesis and function of extracellular vesicles in cancer.

  2018cited by this paper
• Cancer-derived exosomal miR-25-3p promotes pre-metastatic niche formation by inducing vascular permeability and angiogenesis

  2018cited by this paper
• Extracellular vesicles: lipids as key components of their biogenesis and functions

  2018cited by this paper
• Prognostic and predictive value of long non-coding RNA GAS5 and mircoRNA-221 in colorectal cancer and their effects on colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion

  2018cited by this paper
• Plasma Exosomal Long Non-Coding RNAs Serve as Biomarkers for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Hypoxic Colorectal Cancer Cells Confer Metastatic Phenotype to Non-metastatic Cancer Cells

  2018cited by this paper
• Colorectal cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles establish an inflammatory premetastatic niche in liver metastasis

  2018cited by this paper
• Downregulation of exosome‐encapsulated miR‐548c‐5p is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• Circulating exosomal CPNE3 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• Overexpression of miR‑221 and miR‑222 in the cancer stroma is associated with malignant potential in colorectal cancer.

  2018cited by this paper
• Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts promote the stemness and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer by transferring exosomal lncRNA H19

  2018cited by this paper
• A33 antibody-functionalized exosomes for targeted delivery of doxorubicin against colorectal cancer.

  2018cited by this paper
• Circulating Exosomal miR-27a and miR-130a Act as Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• Effect of colorectal cancer-derived extracellular vesicles on the immunophenotype and cytokine secretion profile of monocytes and macrophages

  2018cited by this paper
• Surface functionalized exosomes as targeted drug delivery vehicles for cerebral ischemia therapy.

  2018cited by this paper
• Exosomal miR‐6803‐5p as potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in colorectal cancer

  2018cited by this paper
• Exosomal lncRNA 91H is associated with poor development in colorectal cancer by modifying HNRNPK expression

  2018cited by this paper
• Clinical implications of carcinoembryonic antigen distribution in serum exosomal fraction—Measurement by ELISA

  2017influential reference
• Exodisc for Rapid, Size-Selective, and Efficient Isolation and Analysis of Nanoscale Extracellular Vesicles from Biological Samples.

  2017influential reference
• Methodological Guidelines to Study Extracellular Vesicles.

  2017cited by this paper
• GPC1 exosome and its regulatory miRNAs are specific markers for the detection and target therapy of colorectal cancer

  2017cited by this paper
• Circulating exosomal miR-125a-3p as a novel biomarker for early-stage colon cancer

  2017cited by this paper
• Exosomal long noncoding RNA CRNDE-h as a novel serum-based biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer

  2016cited by this paper
• Screening of exosomal microRNAs from colorectal cancer cells

  2016cited by this paper
• Modulation of tissue tropism and biological activity of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles: New nanotools for cancer treatment.

  2016cited by this paper
• ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

  2016cited by this paper
• Exosome-Carried microRNA-375 Inhibits Cell Progression and Dissemination via Bcl-2 Blocking in Colon Cancer.

  2015cited by this paper
• Analysis of circulating tumour DNA to monitor disease burden following colorectal cancer surgery

  2015influential reference

• No citing papers are available for this paper.