Revolutionizing liquid biopsies: Extracellular vesicles as next-generation biomarkers in esophageal carcinoma
1 Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
2 Department of Pathology, King Ceasor University, Kampala, Uganda.
3 Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
4 Department of Pathology, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
5 Department of Pathology, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu, Uganda.
6 Department of National Health Laboratories and Diagnostic Services, Kampala, Uganda.
Review
International Journal of Science and Technology Research Archive, 2026, 10(01), 040-050.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijstra.2026.10.1.0011
Publication history:
Received on 27 November 2025; revised on 05 February 2026; accepted on 07 February 2026
Abstract:
Esophageal carcinoma presents a significant global health challenge, characterized by its aggressive nature and limited survival rates despite advancements in treatment. This has heightened the demand for non-invasive biomarkers that facilitate early detection, real-time disease monitoring, and treatment stratification, leading to increased interest in liquid biopsy methods. Extracellular vehicles (EVs) have emerged as promising carriers of biomarkers due to their abundance in bodily fluids, molecular stability, and ability to transport biologically active nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids derived from tumor cells. This review synthesizes current knowledge on EV biogenesis and molecular composition, specifically highlighting their relevance to esophageal carcinoma. It summarizes reported EV-associated biomarkers linked to tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response, and outlines the analytical platforms utilized for EV isolation and characterization. The review also discusses key biological and technical challenges that hinder clinical translation, along with emerging innovations aimed at enhancing specificity and scalability. Overall, this review underscores the growing potential of EV-based liquid biopsy as a transformative tool for advancing precision oncology in the context of esophageal carcinoma.
Keywords:
Esophageal Carcinoma; Extracellular Vesicles; Liquid Biopsy; Biomarkers; Molecular Profiling; Precision Oncology
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0