Liquid biopsy in urothelial carcinoma: Detection techniques and clinical applications

Barriers and facilitators of the application of precision medicine to the genitourinary cancer care pathway: Perspective from a low- and middle- income country in sub-Saharan Africa

The benefit of the delivery of the right form of cancer care, tailored to the right patient, at the right time is increasingly being recognized in the global oncology community. Information on the role and feasible potential of precision oncology during the management of genitourinary cancer in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is limited. This article, therefore, describes the present application of personalized medicine in Nigeria and its barriers and facilitators. It provided granular details on manpower distribution and epidemiological disparities. It also explored the use of clinical and biological markers for screening and early diagnosis, the application of team science to support genomic profiling, cost-effective approaches for image-based phenotypic precision oncology, the emerging role of molecular imaging, access to clinical trials; and their potential to support data driven diagnosis, treatment decision and care availability in order to address gaps in genitourinary cancer management in the country.

[Oncological relevance of neuro-urological diseases]

Apart from a few exceptions, there is currently little scientific evidence on the oncological relevance of neuro-urological diseases. Most research has been conducted into the association between long-term spinal cord injury with its consequences for the lower urinary tract and the occurrence of bladder cancer. These cancers differ in many ways from bladder cancers in patients without spinal cord injury: patients are 20 years younger on average, tumours are very often already muscle-invasive and poorly differentiated with a high proportion of squamous cell carcinomas, and the prognosis is poor. These characteristics also occur in spinal cord injury patients without permanent catheter drainage of the urinary bladder. Although the pathophysiological association has not been clarified in detail, the presence of a neurogenic bladder appears to be the decisive link between spinal cord injury and the occurrence of bladder cancer. Pathological pressure conditions in the urinary bladder and frequent urinary tract infections or asymptomatic bacteriuria resulting from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction could be the decisive pathophysiological factors. In this respect, urinary bladder cancer in persons with a chronic spinal cord injury represents a model tumour after denervation. The clinically important question of screening requires future interdisciplinary research approaches.

Beyond blood: Advancing the frontiers of liquid biopsy in oncology and personalized medicine

Liquid biopsy is emerging as a pivotal tool in precision oncology, offering a noninvasive and comprehensive approach to cancer diagnostics and management. By harnessing biofluids such as blood, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, and pleural effusions, this technique profiles key biomarkers including circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells, microRNAs, and extracellular vesicles. This review discusses the extended scope of liquid biopsy, highlighting its indispensable role in enhancing patient outcomes through early detection, continuous monitoring, and tailored therapy. While the advantages are notable, we also address the challenges, emphasizing the necessity for precision, cost-effectiveness, and standardized methodologies in its broader application. The future trajectory of liquid biopsy is set to expand its reach in personalized medicine, fueled by technological advancements and collaborative research.

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Sheds New Light upon Cardiovascular Diseases

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a biophysical process that mediates the precise and complex spatiotemporal coordination of cellular processes. Proteins and nucleic acids are compartmentalized into micron-scale membrane-less droplets via LLPS. These droplets, termed biomolecular condensates, are highly dynamic, have concentrated components, and perform specific functions. Biomolecular condensates have been observed to organize diverse key biological processes, including gene transcription, signal transduction, DNA damage repair, chromatin organization, and autophagy. The dysregulation of these biological activities owing to aberrant LLPS is important in cardiovascular diseases. This review provides a detailed overview of the regulation and functions of biomolecular condensates, provides a comprehensive depiction of LLPS in several common cardiovascular diseases, and discusses the revolutionary therapeutic perspective of modulating LLPS in cardiovascular diseases and new treatment strategies relevant to LLPS.