Molecular Cargo of Exosomes in Prostate Cancer - A Multi-Omics Perspective on Liquid Biopsies

Sep 23, 2026

Prostate cancer remains a leading malignancy for men, and improved detection and monitoring is a central oncology priority. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles released into body fluids that carry molecular cargo reflecting their cells of origin. Beyond being passive carriers, exosomal content can influence tumor growth, spread, and therapy response. Because exosomes can be extracted from minimally invasive fluid samples, multi-omics analyses can identify diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers, while also addressing current barriers to clinical translation.

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CategoryHealthcare

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1. Introduction

Review Molecular Cargo of Exosomes in Prostate Cancer: A Multi-Omics Perspective on Liquid Biopsies Roxana Andra Coman 1, Andreea Nutu 2, Stefan Strilciuc 2, Liviuta Budisan 2, * and Ioana Berindan-Neagoe 2,3,4 Academic Editor: Jyotsna Batra Received: 30 September 2025 Revised: 9 November 2025 Accepted: 20 November 2025 Published: 1 December 2025 Citation: Coman, R.A.; Nutu, A.; Strilciuc, S.; Budisan, L.; Berindan-Neagoe, I. Molecular Cargo of Exosomesin Prostate Cancer: A Multi-Omics Perspective on Liquid Biopsies. Genes 2025, 16, 1437 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)genes16121437 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Department of Urology, MedLife Humanitas Hospital, 400664 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; dr.roxanacoman@yahoo.com 2 Genomics Department, MEDFUTURE Institute of Biomedical Research, Iuliu-Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 Doctoral School, Iuliu-Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 4 Academy of Medical Sciences, 030167 Bucharest, Romania * Correspondence: [liviuta.petrisor@umfcluj.ro](liviuta.petrisor@umfcluj.ro) Abstract Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and finding better ways to detect and monitor it remains a top priority in oncology. In recent years, scientists have focused their attention on different classes of extracellular bodies, among them the small ones called exosomes. Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles (30–200 nm) released into body fluids, where they transport molecular cargo reflective of their cell of origin. Instead of serving as liquid biopsies themselves, exosomes present in accessible fluids such as plasma and urine can be analyzed as part of minimally invasive liquid biopsy strategies without the need for surgery or tissue sampling. In prostate cancer, exosomes are not just passive carriers: they actively influence how cancer grows, spreads, and responds to treatment. Exosomes can be extracted from simple fluid samples, opening the door to faster, safer, and more personalised approaches to diagnosis and care. Exosome content is analysed for the molecular profiling of tumours, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This has led to the discovery of new biomarkers that may help detect prostate cancer earlier, predict its aggressiveness, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. This review synthesizes current multi-omics data on exosomal cargo in prostate cancer, highlighting diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications as well as existing challenges to clinical translation. Keywords: prostate cancer; exosomes; liquid biopsy; miRNAs; genomic cargo 1. Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting men worldwide and represents a major global health concern. It is estimated that there were 1.4 million new cases and 375,000 deaths from PCa worldwide in 2020 [1,2] . It ranks as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, yet in Europe, it is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death among men [3], highlighting the urgent need for improved strategies in early detection, risk stratification, treatment and monitoring strategies. The incidence and mortality rates have been shown tobe influenced by various factors, such as age, ethnicity, genetic background and staging [4] . Despite advances in screening and treatment, clinical challenges continue, primarily due to the heterogeneous nature of PCa and the limitations of existing diagnostic tools [5] . For decad

FAQs

What are exosomes and why are they relevant to prostate cancer research?

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles released into body fluids that transport molecular cargo from their cells of origin. In prostate cancer, exosomal cargo can affect how cancer grows, spreads, and responds to treatment.

How does liquid biopsy use exosomes?

Exosomes present in accessible fluids like plasma and urine can be analyzed as part of minimally invasive liquid biopsy strategies, without surgery or tissue sampling.

What multi-omics data are used to analyze exosomal cargo in prostate cancer?

Exosome content is analyzed for molecular profiling of tumors across genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to discover biomarkers.

Sep 23, 2026

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