# Research advances in extracellular vesicles for diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary cancers

**Authors:** Minghong Zhao, Wenlong Huang, Changwei Yang, Linke Lu, Linli Chen, Jun Wang, Hao Yang, Qiuyan Guo, Tao Qin, Defa Huang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2026.1793573 · 2026-03-12

## TL;DR

This review explores how extracellular vesicles can help diagnose and treat genitourinary cancers by carrying biological molecules.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in extracellular vesicles for urogenital cancer diagnosis and treatment.

## Key findings

- EVs play key roles in the progression and metastasis of urogenital cancers.
- EVs are promising for diagnosis and treatment due to their biocompatibility and ability to carry biological molecules.
- The paper integrates findings from studies and clinical trials on EVs in prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers.

## Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as vital mediators of intercellular communication, playing crucial roles in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of urogenital cancers. Due to their ability to carry diverse biological molecules and their excellent biocompatibility, EVs have garnered significant attention as novel tools for the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies such as prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the biological functions of EVs in various urogenital tumors, integrates findings from both fundamental studies and clinical trials, and discusses ongoing obstacles and future prospects in the field. By providing insights into the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of EVs, this article aims to support the development of precision medicine strategies for urogenital cancer patients.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** prostate cancer (MONDO:0005159), bladder cancer (MONDO:0004986), kidney cancer (MONDO:0002367), testicular cancer (MONDO:0003510)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers (MESH:D007680), malignancies (MESH:D009369), metastasis (MESH:D009362), genitourinary cancers (MESH:D014565)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13018136/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13018136