Exosomes in cancer: Functional mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives

doi:10.5306/wjco.v17.i3.116823

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Mar 24, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 26, 2026

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World Journal of Clinical Oncology

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Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.

World J Clin Oncol. Mar 24, 2026; 17(3): 116823
Published online Mar 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i3.116823

Exosomes in cancer: Functional mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives

Wei-Zhang Xiao, Jia-Hai Shi

Wei-Zhang Xiao, Jia-Hai Shi, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital and Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China

Author contributions: Xiao WZ designed the study, reviewed the references and analyzed all data; Shi JH edited the manuscript; Xiao WZ and Shi JH acquired the funding. All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Supported by Jiangsu Provincial Research Hospital, No. YJXYY202204-YSB58.

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

Corresponding author: Wei-Zhang Xiao, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital and Medical School of Nantong University, No. 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China. xwz191201@163.com

Received: November 21, 2025
Revised: December 17, 2025
Accepted: January 26, 2026
Published online: March 24, 2026
Processing time: 122 Days and 18.9 Hours

Core Tip

Core Tip: This minireview elucidates the triple roles of exosomes in cancer therapy: As direct effectors, drug delivery vehicles, and immunomodulators. Focusing on mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes as a paradigm, it details their context-dependent, “double-edged sword” functionality in tumor regulation. The discussion extends to key translational challenges, including cargo complexity and manufacturing standardization, while highlighting engineering strategies as the critical path toward harnessing exosomes as potent, cell-free therapeutics.