Control of gene expression by exosome-derived non-coding RNAs in cancer angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

Abstract

Tumour angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are hallmarks of cancer and have been associated with tumour progression, tumour metastasis and poor patient prognosis. Many factors regulate angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cancer including non-coding RNAs which are a cate-gory of RNAs that do not encode proteins and have important regulatory functions at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Non-coding RNAs can be encapsulated in extracellular vesicles called exosomes which are secreted by tumour cells or other cells in the tumour microenviron-ment and can then be taken up by the endothelial cells of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The “delivery” of these non-coding RNAs to en..