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Tumor Discovery

REVIEW ARTICLE
The role of melanoma-derived exosomes in

metastasis: Challenges and opportunities

4
1
2†
3
Manting Luo , Huirong Hong , Yufan Yang , Ziyuan Liu , Zhiheng Zhou ,
1†
1
6
5
1
3
Tao Ren , Guofen Chen , Jun Xiao , Bohong Cen *, Jian Wang *, and Jianlong Li 1 *
1 Department of Orthopedic, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou,
Guangdong, China
2 The First Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
3 Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong,
China
4 Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong,
China
5 Department of Orthopedic, Zengcheng Courtyard of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University,
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
6 Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopedic, Nanfang Hospital, Southern
Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
† These authors contributed equally Abstract
to this work
*Corresponding authors: Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, is characterized by its strong metastatic
Jianlong Li potential and resistance to standard treatments. Recent cancer research has emphasized
(lijianlong@i.smu.edu.cn) the significance of exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle and particle, in mediating cell-
Jian Wang
(13392127531@163.com) to-cell communication and driving tumor progression. Melanoma-derived exosomes
Bohong Cen contribute to metastasis by facilitating immune evasion, modulating the tumor
(cenbohong22@i.smu.edu.cn) microenvironment, and inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The exosomal
Citation: Luo M, Hong H, Yang Y, cargos, including nucleic acids (DNA, microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circular
et al. The role of melanoma- RNA), proteins, lipids, and other biomolecules, play critical roles in reprogramming
derived exosomes in metastasis: recipient cells to support tumor growth and spread. These exosomes also aid in forming
Challenges and opportunities.
Tumor Discov. 2025;4(2):4-19. pre-metastatic niches by transferring pro-inflammatory cytokines, extracellular matrix
doi: 10.36922/td.7108 remodeling enzymes, and angiogenic factors to distant organs, preparing these sites
Received: December 8, 2024 for tumor colonization. Furthermore, tumor-derived exosomes promote therapy
resistance by delivering drug-resistant molecular signatures, which diminish treatment
1st revised: February 7, 2025
efficacy. This emerging evidence highlights the therapeutic potential of exosome-
2nd revised: February 23, 2025 based strategies, including inhibitors of exosome biogenesis and uptake or the use of
Accepted: February 27, 2025 engineered exosomes for targeted drug delivery. Advances in precision medicine also
facilitate the use of exosome-derived molecular signatures in early-stage diagnosis
Published online: April 3, 2025
and treatment monitoring through liquid biopsy. However, clinical translation remains
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). challenging due to cargo heterogeneity, lack of standardized isolation methods, and
This is an Open-Access article potential off-target effects in exosome-based therapies. Addressing these challenges
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution could lead to more effective therapies and better patient outcomes. This review
License, permitting distribution, synthesizes current knowledge on the biogenesis, composition, and functional roles
and reproduction in any medium, of tumor-derived exosomes in metastasis, alongside their potential applications as
provided the original work is
properly cited. biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Deciphering exosomal dynamics in melanoma
may open new avenues for advanced diagnostics and treatments.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Melanoma; Exosome; Metastasis
affiliations.

Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/td.7108