Introduction Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are nanoscale lipid bilayer structures secreted by plant cells. As they possess distinctive biological advantages and therapeutic capability, PDEVs have demonstrated their considerable potential in the field of tumor treatment. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, and other databases using terms related to “PDEVs”, “cancer” and “drug delivery”. The studies were comprehensively analyzed to provide the up-to-date biological mechanisms. Results PDEVs exhibit significant anti-cancer functions by inducing cell apoptosis, arresting cell cycle progression, and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. These vesicles serve as efficient delivery platforms for endogenous and exogenous nucleic acids as well as chemotherapeutic drugs, augmenting therapeutic efficacy while reducing off-target toxicity. Emerging insights reveal PDEVs' potential as adjuvants for immunotherapy through modulating gut microbiota and related metabolites. As natural photosensitizers, PDEVs can boost photodynamic therapy efficacy. Furthermore, PDEVs can modulate the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), thereby potentially affecting tumor growth, angiogenesis, and immune responses. Conclusions This review highlights the prospects of PDEVs in cancer therapy by systematically summarizing their intrinsic anti-tumor effects, drug delivery capabilities, and emerging synergistic applications. This work could provide new insights into the clinical translation of PDEVs as a effective anti-cancer strategy, offering new therapeutic options for cancer patients.
Cai et al. (Sun,) studied this question.