Oncogenic mutation regulates formation and dissemination of exosomes in colon cancer cells

Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles secreted by a wide variety of cells which are found to play important roles in tumor formation. The removal of exosomes is one of the proposed ways to reduce the progression of cancer but the specific oncogenic pathway that regulates the formation of the cancer-derived exosomes still remains unclear. This thesis examines the effect of a mutated oncogene, KRAS on the formation and dissemination of exosomes in colon cancer cells. It identifies that KRAS mutation affects the production of exosomes and alters the recipient cell’s acitivity by transferring surviving related-proteins via exosomes.