Abstract
Exosomes, extracellular vesicles (30-150 nm in diameter) released upon the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane, are pivotal mediators of intercellular communication through their cargo transport. The present review aimed to provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms by which exosomal non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, contribute to the development of cervical cancer (CC). There are currently no US Food and Drug Administration-approved exosome products for medical use. The present review highlights the critical role of exosomal ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of CC, including tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, angiogenesis and drug resistance, and discusses their potential as novel biomarkers for diagnosis, therapeutic targets and prognostic tools for CC. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of these ncRNAs requires further confirmation by clinical trials, which is essential before exosomes can be broadly adopted in CC. Although exosomes hold significant potential in the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of CC, several challenges remain to be addressed before their translation into therapeutic use, including the standardization of exosome isolation and storage protocols, the optimization of drug-loading efficiency, precise control over cargo release kinetics and the completion of extensive clinical trials.