Research progress on exosomes in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） is manifested with non-specific clinical symptoms. A majority of NSCLC patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage. The clinical prognosis is poor and the survival rate is low. It is necessary to make an early diagnosis of NSCLC. Exosomes are small vesicles secreted by a variety of cells, which can act as a messenger and vector of biological signal to participate in the physiological and pathological processes of living bodies. Some studies have found that exosomes can affect the growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of NSCLC. They can also serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of NSCLC. In this article, the role and mechanism of exosomes during the incidence and development of NSCLC were reviewed. In addition, the application of exosomes in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of NSCLC was introduced.