Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
Cell-Free DNA Integrity Analysis in Urine Samples
Published on: January 5, 2017
New Progress of Epigenetic Biomarkers in Urological Cancer
1Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Luohu Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China; Shenzhen Following Precision Medical Institute, Shenzhen Luohu Hospital Group, Shenzhen 518000, China; First Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518037, China.
Abstract:
Urological cancers consist of bladder, kidney, prostate, and testis cancers and they are generally silenced at their early stage, which leads to the loss of the best opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment. Desired biomarkers are scarce for urological cancers and current biomarkers are lack of specificity and sensitivity. Epigenetic alterations are characteristic of nearly all kinds of human malignances including DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA regulation. Besides, the detection of these epigenetic conditions is easily accessible especially for urine, best target for monitoring the diseases of urinary system. Here, we summarize some new progress about epigenetic biomarkers in urological cancers, hoping to provide new thoughts for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of urological cancers.
Insights
Epigenetic biomarkers offer new hope for diagnosing urological cancers like bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer early. Detecting these epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, in urine can improve cancer detection and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Urological cancers (bladder, kidney, prostate, testis) often present with silent early stages, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment.
- Current biomarkers for urological cancers lack the necessary specificity and sensitivity for effective early detection.
- Epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA regulation, are hallmarks of human malignancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in epigenetic biomarkers for urological cancers.
- To highlight the potential of epigenetic markers for improved diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
- To emphasize the accessibility of detecting epigenetic changes in urine for disease monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on epigenetic biomarkers in urological cancers.
- Analysis of the role of DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA regulation.
- Evaluation of urine-based detection methods for epigenetic markers.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic alterations are prevalent across various urological cancers.
- Urine samples provide a non-invasive and accessible source for detecting epigenetic biomarkers.
- Emerging epigenetic biomarkers show promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and monitoring treatment response.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic biomarkers represent a promising frontier for the early detection and management of urological cancers.
- Further research into urine-based epigenetic markers could revolutionize urological cancer diagnostics and prognostics.
- Targeting epigenetic modifications may offer novel therapeutic strategies for urological malignancies.
More Related Videos
13:19Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
12:13Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
Published on: November 19, 2019
