Engineered exosomes: a promising approach for overcoming challenges in pancreatic cancer therapy

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest types of cancer, with very low chances of survival. It is often asymptomatic in the early stage, making diagnosis difficult. Therefore, it is typically found at an advanced stage, resulting in patients missing the opportunity for radical surgery. The complex biological characteristics of PC, coupled with the difficulties in drug delivery and tumor resistance, limit the effectiveness of drug therapy. Due to their compatibility with biological systems and low likelihood of triggering an immune response, exosomes are seen as a promising method for drug delivery. They are capable of targeting and penetrating tissues inside the body and can be engineered through surface modification and drug loading. Engineered exosomes possess controllable and diverse drug-carrying capabilities, which can enhance drug internalization and cellular uptake. Owing to their special properties and the potential to overcome the drawbacks of standard therapies, engineered exosomes have appeared as a promising treatment option. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the current application status and progress of engineered exosomes used in PC therapy.