Exploring the role of natural bioactive molecules in genitourinary cancers: how far has research progressed?

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Liam

Cancer treatment commonly relies on drug therapy, surgery, biotherapy, and radiation, with chemotherapy long used yet limited by collateral damage to healthy cells and severe adverse effects. Genitourinary cancer has grown in concern, especially among middle-aged populations. Researchers seek safer therapeutic options from natural small molecules, and this review consolidates evidence on their mechanisms and potential targets. It covers prostate, renal, bladder, and testicular cancers and summarizes ongoing and completed clinical evidence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Therapeutic landscape for genitourinary cancers

Islam et al. Natural Products and Bioprospecting (2023) 13:39 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-023-00400-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-023-00400-4) Natural Products and Bioprospecting REVIEW Open Access Exploring the role of natural bioactive molecules in genitourinary cancers: how far has research progressed? Fahadul Islam 1†, Nikhil Nath2, Mehrukh Zehravi3*†, Jishan Khan2, Sumiya Ben‑Ta Jashim2, Manoj Shrawan Charde4, Rita Dadarao Chakole4, K. Praveen Kumar5, A. Kishore Babu6, Firzan Nainu7, Sharuk L. Khan8, Safia Obaidur Rab9, Talha Bin Emran 1,10* and Polrat Wilairatana11*† Abstract The primary approaches to treat cancerous diseases include drug treatment, surgical procedures, biotherapy, and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy has been the primary treatment for cancer for a long time, but its main draw‑ back is that it kills cancerous cells along with healthy ones, leading to deadly adverse health effects. However, geni‑ tourinary cancer has become a concern in recent years as it is more common in middle‑aged people. So, researchers are trying to find possible therapeutic options from natural small molecules due to the many drawbacks associated with chemotherapy and other radiation‑based therapies. Plenty of research was conducted regarding genitourinary cancer to determine the promising role of natural small molecules. So, this review focused on natural small molecules along with their potential therapeutic targets in the case of genitourinary cancers such as prostate cancer, renal can‑ cer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and so on. Also, this review states some ongoing or completed clinical evidence in this regard. Keywords Genitourinary cancers, Apoptosis, Urinary tract, Chemotherapy, Polyphenols †Fahadul Islam, Mehrukh Zehravi and Polrat Wilairatana contributed equally to this work. *Correspondence: Mehrukh Zehravi [mahrukh.zehravi@hotmail.com](mahrukh.zehravi@hotmail.com)[ ](mahrukh.zehravi@hotmail.com)Talha Bin Emran [talhabmb@bgctub.ac.bd](talhabmb@bgctub.ac.bd)[ ](talhabmb@bgctub.ac.bd)Polrat Wilairatana[polrat.wil@mahidol.ac.th](polrat.wil@mahidol.ac.th) 1 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh 2 Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong 4318, Bangladesh 3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Dentistry & Pharmacy, Buraydah Private Colleges, Buraydah 51418, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 4 Government College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Karad, Satara 415124, Maharashtra, India 5 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU), Mehrauli‑Badarpur Road, PushpVihar, Sector 3, New Delhi 110017, India 6 Ratnadeep College of Pharmacy, Ratnapur, Jamkhed, Ahmednagar 413206, Maharashtra, India 7 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, Indonesia 8 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, N. B. S. Institute of Pharmacy, Ausa 413520, Maharashtra, India 9 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia 10 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School & Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA 11 Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand © The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Crea

FAQs

What major treatment modalities are discussed for cancer, and what limitation is highlighted for chemotherapy?

The review lists drug therapy, surgical procedures, biotherapy, and radiation therapy. It highlights that chemotherapy can kill cancerous cells together with healthy ones, causing deadly adverse health effects.

Why are natural small molecules considered for genitourinary cancers in this review?

Genitourinary cancers have become a growing concern, and chemotherapy and radiation-based therapies have many drawbacks. The review explains that researchers are therefore searching for possible therapeutic options from natural small molecules.

Which genitourinary cancer types does the review focus on?

The review focuses on natural small molecules and their therapeutic targets in genitourinary cancers including prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and testicular cancer.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Liam