A new review published in Oncoscience on September 30, 2026, examines how extracellular vesicles (EVs) create a common language between aging and cancer, offering insights into potential biomarkers and future therapeutic strategies. The review, titled “Extracellular vesicles in health, aging and disease,” was authored by Ethan Umeris and Igor Kovalchuk from the University of Lethbridge’s Department of Biological Sciences. The authors highlight important similarities in the signals released by aging and cancerous cells, suggesting that altered cellular communication could be a key link between these processes.
Extracellular vesicles are tiny particles that carry molecular messages between cells, transporting proteins, lipids, and genetic material. Under normal conditions, they support essential processes like tissue repair, immune regulation, and cellular balance. However, their molecular contents can change in response to stress, inflammation, and disease, influencing the behavior of surrounding cells. The review focuses particularly on exosomes, a well-studied type of EV, whose effects differ considerably depending on whether they originate from healthy, aging, or cancerous cells.
Extracellular Vesicles in Aging and Cancer
These signals may contribute to chronic inflammation, impaired tissue repair, and other changes associated with aging. In cancer, tumor-derived exosomes carry molecules that support cancer-cell survival and alter the surrounding tissue environment.
Identifying Disease Biomarkers
However, their biological effects depend on the originating cells and their environment. These similarities suggest that understanding both the overlapping and divergent cargo of senescence-associated and tumor-derived exosomes is crucial for identifying disease-specific biomarkers and designing targeted therapeutic treatments.
The authors also highlight the potential clinical value of extracellular vesicles. The review shows how extracellular vesicles connect biological processes in healthy cellular function, aging, and cancer, and may point the way toward more targeted approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
The review was published in Volume 13 of Oncoscience and can be accessed via its DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncoscience.673.
