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© 2023 The Authors. Société Internationale d'Urologie Journal, published by the Société Internationale d'Urologie, Canada.

SIUJ.ORG SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 4  •  July 2023 241

EDITORIAL

Liquid Biopsies in Genitourinary Malignancies

Roger Li1,2 
Guest Editor
1 Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, United States  
2 Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, United States

Soc Int Urol J.2023;4(4):241–242 
DOI: 10.48083/GRQW4595

Measurement of extracellular circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in various body fluids and secretions represents 
a non-invasive method to capture a molecular snapshot of the systemic tumor burden in patients with various 
stages of cancer. At the same time, deep insights regarding the cancer’s molecular characteristics may be gleaned 
from comprehensive ctDNA profiling to understand the mechanisms driving cancer progression and response to 
treatment, amongst other important clinical questions that may alter management strategies. Given these advantages, 
it is easy to see why these novel diagnostic tests have engendered such great excitement in oncology practices. In the 
management of genitourinary tumors, the use of ctDNA is further boosted by its accessibility: these tumors are in 
close proximity to the urinary tract, and it is postulated that higher levels of tumor-associated cfDNA can be isolated 
directly from genitourinary secretions enabling more accurate detection and tracking of the disease.

Notwithstanding, there are many challenges present in the detection and interpretation of the results gathered in 
the context of genitourinary cancers. First, there is a wide array of techniques for identifying and measuring cfDNA 
from malignancies, some involving tumor-informed methods, others relying on panel-testing of commonly occur-
ring genomic alterations detected in cancer. Optimization and customization of these methods are necessary for 
each of the genitourinary malignancies. Additionally, specific challenges abound for various tumor types. Kidney 
cancer is notorious for shedding low levels of ctDNA, making systemic detection difficult. For prostate and germ cell 
tumors, the diagnostic accuracy of ctDNA-based liquid biopsies needs to exceed the accuracy of established, time-
tested, non-invasive biomarkers widely available today. In urothelial carcinoma, although the detection of urine-
based ctDNA holds promise, technical challenges, such as distinguishing false positives from pre-existing mutations 
within normal urothelium, need to be resolved to arrive at a reliable testing modality.

With the burgeoning genomic sequencing technology platforms enabling ever more affordable testing, data points 
are increasingly being gathered to address many of the outstanding issues hindering wide implementation of this 
technology. In this issue of the SIUJ, we summarize the most up-to-date knowledge regarding the use of ctDNA 
in the management of prostate, urothelial, renal cell, and germ cell tumors[1–4]. We also explore whether urine or 
plasma is the ideal fluid for liquid biopsies to reflect the systemic tumor burden and molecular characteristics[5,6].  
In addition, this issue features results of an original study using urinary ctDNA to stage patients with muscle invasive 
bladder cancer at the time of radical cystectomy[7]. These reports will introduce this important novel platform and its 
capabilities, point out several unmet challenges, and help readers imagine a new era of precision medicine powered by 
molecular diagnostics.

Acknowledgements
Research support: Predicine; Veracyte; CG Oncology; Valar Labs.
Clinical trial protocol committee: CG Oncology.
Scientific advisor/consultant: BMS, Merck, Fergene, Arquer Diagnostics, Urogen Pharma, Lucence, CG Oncology.

http://SIUJ.org
mailto:Roger.Li%40moffitt.org?subject=SIUJ


References

1. Kostos L, Fettke H, Kwan EM, Azad AA. Utility and Clinical Application 
of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) in Advanced Prostate Cancer. Soc 
Int Urol J.2023;4(4):273–286.

2. Dyrskjøt L. Urine-Based Cell-Free DNA Tests in Urothelial Cancer: 
Additional Value for Clinical Decision-Making? Soc Int Urol 
J.2023;4(4):341–342.

3. Yip W, Hakimi AA. Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) in Kidney Cancer. 
Soc Int Urol J.2023;4(4):287–292.

4. Dolendo I, Cox S, Puri D, Bagrodia A. The Role of Circulating Tumor DNA 
and Cell-Free DNA in the Management of Germ Cell Tumors. Soc Int 
Urol J.2023;4(4):293–300.

5. Patel MS, Wang L. Benefits of Plasma Over Other Body Fluids for 
Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Genitourinary Tumors. Soc Int 
Urol J.2023;4(4):338–340.

6. Shiang A, Nawaf C, Chauhan PS, Chaudhuri AA, Smith ZL, Agarwal G. 
Urinary Tumor DNA-Based Diagnosis and Surveillance for Nonmuscle-
Invasive Bladder Cancer. Soc Int Urol J.2023;4(4):301–308.

7. Murthy PB, Gould B, Davaro F, Du P, Camperlengo L, Naidu S, Rose K, 
Gilbert SM, Spiess P, Sexton W, Grass GD, Jain R, Wang X, Meeks JJ, 
Necchi A, Cheng L, Jia S, Li R. Utilizing Cell-Free Urinary and Plasma 
Tumor DNA to Predict Pathologic Stage at Radical Cystectomy. Soc 
Int Urol J.2023;4(4):247–256.

242 SIUJ  •  Volume 4, Number 4  •  July 2023 SIUJ.ORG

EDITORIAL

http://SIUJ.org

