Exosomes in Genitourinary Cancers: Emerging Mediators of Drug Resistance and Promising Biomarkers

Drug resistance presents a major obstacle in the treatment of genitourinary cancers. Exosomes as the medium of intercellular communication serve important biological functions and play essential roles in pathological processes, including drug response. Through the transfer of bioactive cargoes, exosomes can modulate drug resistance via multiple mechanisms. This review attempts to elucidate the mechanisms of exosomal cargoes with reference to tumor drug resistance, their role in genitourinary cancers, and their potential clinical applications as candidate biomarkers in liquid biopsy.

Automated summary

This review article discusses the important role of exosomes in drug resistance. By transferring bioactive cargoes, exosomes can modulate the response of tumor cells to drugs, thereby affecting treatment outcomes. Exosomes also have the potential to serve as biomarkers in liquid biopsy for the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary cancers.