# Transforming Cancer Care with Oncosomes: Insight into Biogenesis, Functional Role, and Therapeutic Potential

## TL;DR

Oncosomes, large vesicles from tumor cells, show promise for targeted drug delivery in cancer but face challenges in manufacturing and regulation.

## Contribution

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of oncosome biogenesis, therapeutic potential, and current technical barriers.

## Key findings

- Oncosomes can carry oncogenic proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids for tumor communication and drug delivery.
- Current methods for oncosome isolation and cargo loading include incubation, electroporation, and sonication.
- Challenges include heterogeneity, low loading efficiency, and regulatory uncertainty for clinical translation.

## Abstract

Oncosomes, a distinct subclass of extracellular vesicles released predominantly by tumor cells, have attracted increasing interest as potential carriers for targeted drug delivery in cancer research. Characterized by their large size (1–10 µm) and complex molecular cargo, including oncogenic proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, oncosomes provide a biologically relevant platform for investigating tumor-associated communication and cargo transport. Preclinical studies suggest that oncosomes may enable tumor-associated delivery of therapeutic agents; however, evidence to date remains largely proof-of-concept and derived from in vitro and animal models. This review summarizes current knowledge on oncosome biogenesis and molecular composition; discusses their roles in cancer progression and metastasis; and critically evaluates existing methodologies for oncosome isolation, characterization, and cargo loading, including incubation, electroporation, sonication, freeze–thaw cycling, and transfection. Potential advantages such as cargo capacity and biological compatibility are discussed alongside key challenges, including vesicle heterogeneity, limited loading efficiency, large-scale manufacturing constraints, safety considerations, and regulatory uncertainty. Future perspectives focus on addressing these technical and translational barriers to support the systematic evaluation of engineered oncosomes as an experimental platform for personalized and precision-oriented cancer research.