Role of extracellular vesicles in human papillomavirus induced tumorigenesis

Emerging evidence demonstrates a role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a variety of fundamental physiological and pathological processes ranging from antigen presentation to T cell to neurodegenerative diseases. In several types of malignancies, a variety of EVs can be isolated from bodily fluids of cancer patients, and it has been reported that the number of circulating EVs seems to be higher than in healthy subjects. This increase correlates with poor prognosis. Data obtained from different groups clearly point out a role of EVs in the transfer of bioactive molecules such as microRNAs and viral oncoproteins in human papillomavirus-induced malignancies of genital and oral tracts. This study summarizes these data in the context of relevant literature considering the EVs as carriers of oncogenic signatures in human cancer as well as their therapeutic potential in HPV-related tumors.