Role of exosomal miR‑21 in the tumor microenvironment and osteosarcoma tumorigenesis and progression (Review)

• Published in: International journal of oncology Vol. 56; no. 5; pp. 1055 - 1063
• Main Authors: Wang, Shoufeng, Ma, Fang, Feng, Yi, Liu, Tang, He, Shasha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece Spandidos Publications 01.05.2020; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Apoptosis; B cells; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biosynthesis; Bone cancer; Bone Neoplasms - diagnosis; Bone Neoplasms - genetics; Cancer; Cancer cells; Cancer metastasis; Care and treatment; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Chemotherapy; Development and progression; Disease; Disease Progression; Diseases; Drug resistance; Early Detection of Cancer; Endothelium; Exosomes - genetics; Fibroblasts; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; Health aspects; Humans; Kinases; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - blood; MicroRNAs - genetics; Osteosarcoma; Osteosarcoma - diagnosis; Osteosarcoma - genetics; Proteins; Sarcoma; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; Youth; China
• ISSN: 1019-6439; 1791-2423
• DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.4992

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor affecting both adolescents and children. Early detection is critical for the effective treatment of the disease. Derived from cancer cells, miR‑21 contained within exosomes in the tumor microenvironment may act on both cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In human serum and plasm, the level of exosomal miR‑21 between osteosarcoma patients and healthy controls differs, supporting the role of miR‑21 as a biomarker for osteosarcoma. The involvement of a number of miR‑21 target genes in tumor progression suggests that miR‑21 may significantly affect the plasticity of cancer cells, leading to tumor progression, metastasis, angiogenesis and immune escape in osteosarcoma. Understanding the biogenesis and functions of exosomal miR‑21 is of great value for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer, including osteosarcoma. The present review discusses the role of miR‑21 in the tumor microenvironment, and in the development and progression of osteosarcoma, with an aim to summarize the functions of this miRNA in cancer.