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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
06:20
Murine Bilateral Renal Lymphadenectomy
Published on: December 30, 2025
130
Tertiary lymphoid structures in genitourinary cancers: a comprehensive review
Alvaro Abreu1, Alejandra Viera Plasencia1, Mercy Iribarren1
1Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States.
Frontiers in Oncology
|March 13, 2026
Summary
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in genitourinary cancers can predict patient outcomes and response to therapy. Mature TLSs enhance anti-tumor immunity, offering prognostic and therapeutic potential in these malignancies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are immune cell clusters in non-lymphoid tissues, crucial for localized immune responses.
- TLSs are increasingly recognized for their role in modulating anti-tumor immunity across various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the presence, composition, and clinical significance of TLSs in genitourinary (GU) cancers.
- To evaluate TLSs as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GU malignancies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on TLSs in prostate, bladder, testicular, renal, and penile cancers.
- Analysis of the correlation between TLS characteristics and clinical outcomes, including prognosis and treatment response.
Main Results:
- TLS presence varies across GU cancers; they are infrequent in prostate cancer but common in bladder cancer, correlating with better outcomes and treatment response.
- In renal cell carcinoma, TLSs are linked to improved survival in clear cell subtypes but are less common in papillary and chromophobe types.
- Mature TLSs are associated with enhanced anti-tumor immunity and better prognosis, while immature TLSs may be less effective.
Conclusions:
- TLSs serve as important prognostic indicators in GU cancers.
- TLSs hold significant therapeutic potential, particularly when mature, for enhancing anti-tumor immunity and improving patient outcomes.
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