Double-stranded DNA in exosomes: a novel biomarker in cancer detection

Exosomes, small membrane vesicles (30-100 nm) of endocytic origin secreted by most cell types, contain functional biomolecules, which can be horizontally transferred to recipient cells1. Exosomes bear a specific protein and lipid composition, and carry a select set of functional mRNAs and microRNAs2. Recently, our group has shown that c-Met shed in exosomes can promote a proangiogenic and prometastatic phenotype in bone marrow-derived progenitor cells during melanoma progression3. In previous research, retrotransposon RNA transcripts, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), mitochondrial DNA, and oncogene amplifications (i.e., c-myc) have been detected in microvesicles4,5,6. In this report, we provide evidence that…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Awards: W81XWH, W81XWH-12-BCRP-IDEA, W81XWH-13
• MK
  Mary Kay Foundation
• BC
  Breast Cancer Alliance
• IS
  Ira Sohn Research Conference Foundation
• MR
  Melanoma Research Alliance
• HF
  Hartwell Foundation
• KI
  Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• JC
  José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung
• FC
  Fundação Champalimaud
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01-CA169416, W81XWH
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: CA169416, CA169538