Emerging roles of extracellular vesicles in the adaptive response of tumour cells to microenvironmental stress

Abstract

Cells are constantly subjected to various types of endogenous and exogenous stressful stimuli, which can cause serious and even permanent damage. The ability of a cell to sense and adapt to environmental alterations is thus vital to maintain tissue homeostasis during development and adult life. Here, we review some of the major phenotypic characteristics of the hostile tumour microenvironment and the emerging roles of extracellular vesicles in these events. © 2013 Paulina Kucharzewska and Mattias Belting.