Exosomal Micro RNAs: Emerging Tools for Cancer Detection and Monitoring in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained considerable attention as novel biomarkers in cancer due to their remarkable stability in biological fluids and tumor-specific expression profiles. These small non-coding RNAs are selectively packaged into exosomes, which protect them from degradation and facilitate their role in intercellular communication, influencing tumor progression and metastasis. The clinical utility of exosomal miRNAs encompasses early cancer detection, prognosis prediction, and monitoring therapeutic responses through minimally invasive liquid biopsies. Despite promising results, challenges such as standardization of isolation methods, heterogeneity of exosome populations, and validation in large-scale clinical studies remain to be addressed. Advances in isolation technologies and molecular profiling are expected to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of exosomal miRNA-based assays, potentially revolutionizing personalized cancer management. This review summarizes the current understanding of exosomal miRNAs and discusses their emerging role in oncology diagnostics.