Figure 2.

Glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles can actively remodel the tumor microenvironment. The cartoon summarizes the major effects of glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on cells from the tumor microenvironment. Messages carried in exosomes, such as proteins, RNA and miRNAs, can be taken up by TME recipient cells to elicit a phenotype modulation towards a tumor-supporting phenotype. For instance, GBM-derived exosomes have shown to modulate endothelial cells and pericytes, thus promoting tumor angiogenesis. Again, GSC-derived EVs recruit immune cells (monocytes, macrophages, T cells) to drive immune modulation that fosters tumor growth. Moreover, EVs can be released within the extracellular milieu just close to the perivascular niche thus acting as autocrine factors to promote GSC self-renewal and proliferation. Therefore, EVs can be employed both in autocrine and paracrine modes by GSCs to give a remarkable support to GBM survival and malignant progression.