Table 1 Exosomes and their association with angiogenesis in different cancers

Thyroid cancer

In vitro

In vivo

Nthy-ori-3–1 cells

miRNA-21-5p/TGFBI

miRNA-21-5p/COL4A1

miRNA-21-5p in exosomes is upregulated under hypoxic conditions

Angiogenesis is induced

TGFBI and COL4A1 are inhibited by miRNA-21-5p to promote angiogenesis and cancer progression

[217]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

In vitro

In vivo

ECA109, KYSE410 and HET-1A cell lines

Nude mice

–

Angiogenesis is promoted by the increased levels of exosomes under hypoxic conditions

[218]

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

In vitro

In vivo

PCI-13 (HPV⁻) and UMSCC47 (HPV⁺) cell lines

Mouse model

–

Functional reprogramming and phenotypic modulation are observed in endothelial cells

Vascular structure formation is increased

Proliferation and invasion are promoted

Angiogenesis is induced by exosomes carrying angiogenic proteins

[219]

Gastric cancer

In vitro

In vivo

SGC7901 cells

Xenograft model

miRNA-155/FOXO3a

FOXO3a is inhibited by miRNA-155 in exosomes to induce angiogenesis in gastric to drive cancer progression

[220]

Gastric cancer

In vitro

HUVECs

YB-1/VEGF

Exosomes derived from gastric cancer cells have high levels of YB-1

Apoptosis is inhibited, and metastasis and angiogenesis are enhanced

Protein and mRNA levels of VEGF are increased

[221]

Gastric cancer

In vitro

SGC7901 and MGC803 cells

miRNA-6785-5p/INHBA

INHBA expression is reduced by exosomes containing miRNA-6785-5p to impair migration and angiogenesis of cancer cells

[222]

Gastric tumor

In vitro

SGC7901 cells

miRNA-135b/FOXO1

FOXO1 expression is decreased by the overexpression of miRNA-135b in exosomes to induce angiogenesis and exert tumor-promoting effects

[223]

Endometrial cancer

In vitro

SPEC2 and ISK cells

LGALS3BP/PI3K/Akt/VEGFA

Cancer progression is enhanced by exosomes containing LGALS3BP

Associated with unfavorable prognosis

VEGFA expression is induced by triggering the PI3K/Akt axis

Angiogenesis is promoted

[224]

Breast cancer

In vitro

MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T47D cells

miRNA-100/mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF

miRNA-100 is delivered by exosomes in breast cancer therapy

Angiogenesis is suppressed to impair cancer progression

VEGF expression is downregulated in a time-dependent manner

The mTOR/HIF-1α axis is suppressed

[225]

Breast cancer

In vitro

4T1 cells

miRNA-16/VEGF

VEGF is downregulated by exosomes containing miRNA-16

Angiogenesis is suppressed

Cancer progression is impaired

[226]

Ovarian cancer

In vitro

A2780 and HO-8910 cells

PKR1/STAT3

Ovarian cancer migration is promoted by exosomes containing PKR1 through induction of angiogenesis

Phosphorylation level of STAT3 is increased by PKR1

[227]

Ovarian cancer

In vitro

SKOV3 cells

miRNA-130a

miRNA-130a is delivered by exosomes

Angiogenesis is increased to promote cancer progression and trigger drug resistance

[228]

Small-cell lung cancer

In vitro

In vivo

H446 cells

Xenograft model

Profilin 2

Migration and tube formation capacity of endothelial cells are enhanced

Smad2/3 is stimulated by profilin 2 in H446 cells

Cancer development and metastasis are enhanced by exosomes

[229]

Colon cancer

In vitro

In vivo

HCT-15 cells

Nude mice

GDF15/Smad/periostin

Angiogenesis is enhanced by exosomes derived from cancer cells

Smad is inhibited by GDF15 to enhance periostin expression to promote angiogenesis

[229]

Colorectal cancer

In vitro

In vivo

LoVo and HT29 cells

miRNA-135b-5p

Angiogenesis is triggered, and proliferation and migration are enhanced

[230]

Renal cancer

In vitro

789-0 cells

hepaCAM/VEGF

VEGF is downregulated and angiogenesis is inhibited by exosomes enriched with hepaCAM

[231]

Renal cancer

In vitro

In vivo

786-0 cells

Nude mice

miRNA-27a/SFRP1/VEGF

SFRP1 is downregulated and VEGF expression is increased by miRNA-27a delivered by exosomes to trigger angiogenesis and promote cancer progression

[232]