Rab27: Molecular switch of tumor exosome secretion (Review)

Rab proteins are core regulators of vesicle trafficking during membrane transport. As key members of this family, Rab27 comprises two functionally distinct isoforms, Rab27a and Rab27b, and participates in the regulation of exosome secretion by mediating the selective anchoring of multivesicular bodies to the plasma membrane. In tumor cells, Rab27 promotes malignant progression by modulating exosome secretion. Aberrantly expressed Rab27 is associated with the prognosis of patients with cancer, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker for various malignant tumors. Furthermore, the development of novel small-molecule drugs targeting Rab27 is promising because these drugs can exert antitumor effects through interference with the exosome secretory pathway. The present review systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying the Rab27-mediated regulation of exosome secretion and its role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression and discusses the application prospects and challenges of Rab27-targeted antitumor therapeutic strategies, aiming to provide a reference for basic research and clinical translation of Rab27.