Further the liquid biopsy: Gathering pieces of the puzzle of genometastasis theory

Figure 3 Exosomes and microvesicles can harbour nucleic acids. Exosomes and microvesicles are generated by different pathways. Exosomes derive from the recycling endosomal pathway, in which the late endosomes (MVB) merge with the plasma membrane instead of with the lysosome, releasing the exosomes. Exosomes encapsulate cytoplasm material such as proteins, RNA or DNA. Microvesicles result from plasma membrane budding, containing cellular components from both cell membrane and cell cytoplasm, including nucleic acids. MVB: Multivesicular bodies.