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Fig. 3 | Cell Communication and Signaling

Fig. 3

From: Extracellular vesicles: mediators of intercellular communication in tissue injury and disease

Fig. 3

The role of EVs post-cancer therapy. A Chemotherapy increases intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to higher EV secretion. EVs derived from tumors that have been exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs have been shown to contain HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), which acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner, resulting in a vicious cycle of cholesterol production in cancer cells. Enhanced cholesterol levels can suppress natural immunity through inhibition of NK cells. B Surgical manipulation of tumors may induce circulating tumor cell (CTC) generation while causing an inflammatory state characterized by increased neutrophils in circulation. Tumor-derived EVs in circulation interact with neutrophils to induce NETosis, which allows CTCs to reach target organs. Tumor cells and tumor-derived EVs, along with immune cells, establish a pre-metastatic niche at this site. C After tumor cells have been exposed to ionizing radiation (IR), EV secretion is enhanced with cargo contents involved in AKT signaling, cell motility, DNA damage, and cytokine responses. Under hypoxic conditions, EV secretion is further increased, and these EVs promote migration in tumor cells and angiogenesis

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