Emerging RNA-Based Therapeutic and Diagnostic Options: Recent Advances and Future Challenges in Genitourinary Cancers

Renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer are the most widespread genitourinary tumors. Their treatment and diagnosis have significantly evolved over recent years, due to an increasing understanding of oncogenic factors and the molecular mechanisms involved. Using sophisticated genome sequencing technologies, the non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have all been implicated in the occurrence and progression of genitourinary cancers. Interestingly, DNA, protein, and RNA interactions with lncRNAs and other biological macromolecules drive some of these cancer phenotypes. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs have identified new functional markers that could be potentially useful as biomarkers for effective diagnosis and/or as targets for therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying abnormal lncRNA expression in genitourinary tumors and discusses their role in diagnostics, prognosis, and treatment.

Automated summary

Renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer are the most common genitourinary tumors. Recent advancements in understanding oncogenic factors and molecular mechanisms have greatly improved their treatment and diagnosis. Non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been found to play important roles in the occurrence and progression of genitourinary cancers. Interactions of DNA, protein, and RNA with lncRNAs and other biological macromolecules contribute to cancer phenotypes. This review focuses on the mechanisms of abnormal lncRNA expression in genitourinary tumors and their potential applications in diagnostics, prognosis, and treatment.