Extracellular vesicle-derived heat shock proteins as biotargets in cancer

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential molecular chaperones that maintain protein homeostasis and protect cells under stress. Their extracellular functions have emerged as pivotal in cancer biology. Extracellularly released HSPs are selectively packaged through stress-responsive pathways and exhibit context-dependent effects within the tumor microenvironment. They can modulate immune cell functions, act as danger signals, and promote immune activation or suppression. Clinically, extracellular vesicle (EV)-HSPs demonstrate potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. It has been shown that they can outperform their soluble counterparts due to enhanced stability and tumor specificity. This mini-review aims to highlight findings related to the roles of EV-HSPs and their potential applications.