مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Urinary MSC-Derived Exosomes as Emerging Diagnostic Biomarkers in Prostate and Bladder Cancers
Urinary MSC-Derived Exosomes as Emerging Diagnostic Biomarkers in Prostate and Bladder Cancers
Seyed Mohammad Sajjadi,1Mohammad Abavisani,2Fahimeh Lavi Arab,3,*
1. Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2. Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 3. Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran/Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Introduction: Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a new class of nanovesicles that have a remarkable diagnostic potential in cancer. These extracellular vesicles, typically 30–150 nm in diameter, are enriched with the cell-specific biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which reflect the physiological or pathological state of the cells. Recent evidence highlights the clinical utility of urinary MSC-derived exosomes in the detection and molecular stratification of genitourinary malignancies, particularly prostate and bladder cancers. Given their non-invasive accessibility, molecular stability, and specificity, these exosomes offer an attractive alternative to conventional diagnostic modalities.
Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (inception–May 2025) was performed using terms relating to “mesenchymal stem cell,” “urine,” “exosomes,” “prostate cancer,” “bladder cancer,” and relevant biomarkers. Relevant articles reporting exosome isolation, proteomic characterization, and biomarker evaluation were synthesized to summarize diagnostic associations.
Results: Urinary MSC-derived exosomes contain a subset of proteins that are strongly associated with tumor-specific signaling networks and show promise as diagnostic biomarkers. Notably, several proteins, including resistin (a subunit of the Gs protein), retinoic acid-induced protein 3 (RAI3), and epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), have been identified within the exosomal cargo. Each of these is mechanistically linked to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, which is known to drive proliferation, survival, and progression in both prostate and bladder cancers. The exosomal presence of EGFRvIII, a constitutively active mutant receptor, provides an especially robust biomarker for malignancy, given its established role in tumorigenesis and resistance to therapy. Similarly, resistin and RAI3 are implicated in inflammatory and proliferative processes characteristic of aggressive tumor phenotypes. The detection of these proteins in urinary exosomes supports the feasibility of non-invasive, molecularly informed cancer screening. In addition to protein identification, the reviewed findings underscore the diagnostic advantages of exosomes over traditional tissue biopsies. Their stability in bodily fluids, protection of cargo from enzymatic degradation, and reproducibility of isolation protocols make them well-suited for liquid biopsy applications. Furthermore, the molecular composition of MSC-derived exosomes demonstrates a high degree of tumor selectivity, enhancing their diagnostic specificity and reducing background noise from non-malignant sources.
Conclusion: Urine-isolated MSC-derived exosomes are an ideal noninvasive and easily accessible source for molecular profiling and early diagnosis of prostate and bladder cancer. With the progress of liquid biopsy methods, the identification of the urinary exosomal profile could be a revolutionary instrument in personalized cancer diagnostics that allows earlier treatment and better survival. However, further translational and clinical confirmation results are necessary to enable the registration of the exosomal biomarkers into diagnostic procedures by setting up standardized protocols.