Molecular Cargo of Exosomes in Prostate Cancer: A Multi-Omics Perspective on Liquid Biopsies
Roxana Andra Coman1, Andreea Nutu2, Stefan Strilciuc2
1Department of Urology, MedLife Humanitas Hospital, 400664 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Abstract:
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and finding better ways to detect and monitor it remains a top priority in oncology. In recent years, scientists have focused their attention on different classes of extracellular bodies, among them the small ones called exosomes. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles (30-200 nm) released into body fluids, where they transport molecular cargo reflective of their cell of origin. Instead of serving as liquid biopsies themselves, exosomes present in accessible fluids such as plasma and urine can be analyzed as part of minimally invasive liquid biopsy strategies without the need for surgery or tissue sampling. In prostate cancer, exosomes are not just passive carriers: they actively influence how cancer grows, spreads, and responds to treatment. Exosomes can be extracted from simple fluid samples, opening the door to faster, safer, and more personalised approaches to diagnosis and care. Exosome content is analysed for the molecular profiling of tumours, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This has led to the discovery of new biomarkers that may help detect prostate cancer earlier, predict its aggressiveness, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. This review synthesizes current multi-omics data on exosomal cargo in prostate cancer, highlighting diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications as well as existing challenges to clinical translation.
Insights
Scientists are exploring exosomes, tiny vesicles in body fluids, as promising biomarkers for early prostate cancer detection and monitoring. Analyzing exosome content offers a minimally invasive approach to personalize cancer care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a leading cancer in men, necessitating improved detection and monitoring methods.
- Exosomes, nanoscale extracellular vesicles in body fluids, carry molecular cargo reflecting their cell of origin.
- Exosomes play active roles in prostate cancer progression and treatment response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current multi-omics data on exosomal cargo in prostate cancer.
- To highlight the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications of exosomal analysis.
- To identify challenges in the clinical translation of exosome-based biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of exosome content from accessible body fluids (plasma, urine) as part of liquid biopsy strategies.
- Molecular profiling of exosomal cargo using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
- Synthesis of current multi-omics data on exosomal cargo in prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- Exosomes can be extracted from simple fluid samples for minimally invasive analysis.
- Exosomal cargo analysis has led to the discovery of potential biomarkers for early detection, aggressiveness prediction, and treatment monitoring.
- Exosomes actively influence prostate cancer growth, spread, and treatment response.
Conclusions:
- Exosome analysis represents a promising avenue for faster, safer, and personalized prostate cancer diagnosis and care.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges and facilitate the clinical translation of exosome-based strategies.
- Multi-omics data on exosomal cargo provides valuable insights into prostate cancer biology and clinical management.
