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New Trends in Urologic Oncology: Surgical Treatments, Robotics, Biomarkers, Diagnostic Tools, and Innovative Therapies

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Research of Cancer".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2619

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Urology, UROSUD, La Croix du Sud Hospital, Quint Fonsegrives, France
Interests: prostate cancer; BPH; urothelial cancer

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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urologic oncology is undergoing rapid development, with significant progress across surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic domains. This Special Issue, “New Trends in Urologic Oncology: Surgical Treatments, Robotics, Biomarkers, Diagnostic Tools, and Innovative Therapies”, will provide an overview of the most recent advances shaping the management of genitourinary malignancies. Particular attention will be given to the evolution of minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques, the refinement of surgical outcomes, and the integration of novel systemic and targeted treatment strategies.

In parallel, the identification and clinical implementation of biomarkers, together with advances in molecular and imaging-based diagnostics, are enabling earlier detection, more precise risk stratification, and individualized therapeutic approaches. These developments are progressively moving the field toward a model of precision oncology, in which treatment decisions are informed by both technological innovation and molecular characterization.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies that reflect these advances and will help in defining new standards of care.

Dr. Alessandro Uleri
Dr. Roberto Contieri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • prostate cancer
  • renal cancer
  • bladder cancer
  • UTUC
  • testicular cancer
  • penile cancer
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 246 KB  
Article
Transition from Transrectal Systematic to Transperineal Lesion-Focused Prostate Biopsy: A Real-World Comparative Analysis
by Thibaut Long Depaquit, Federica Sordelli, Christopher Agüero, Arthur Peyrottes, Alessandro Uleri, Laurent Daniel, David Chemouni, Cyrille Bastide and Michael Baboudjian
Cancers 2026, 18(2), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020332 - 21 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The transperineal (TP) approach has progressively replaced the transrectal (TR) approach for prostate biopsy because of its improved safety profile. However, its impact on the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), particularly within modern lesion-focused biopsy strategies that combine targeted and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The transperineal (TP) approach has progressively replaced the transrectal (TR) approach for prostate biopsy because of its improved safety profile. However, its impact on the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), particularly within modern lesion-focused biopsy strategies that combine targeted and perilesional sampling, remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the real-world diagnostic impact of transitioning from a TR systematic-based biopsy strategy to a TP lesion-focused approach. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study including consecutive men who underwent image-guided prostate biopsy between 2018 and 2025. Only patients with a single MRI-visible lesion (PI-RADS ≥ 3) were included. Two biopsy strategies were compared: TR systematic biopsy (TR–SBx), combining targeted and systematic cores, and TP lesion-focused biopsy (TP–LFx), combining targeted and perilesional cores. The primary outcome was the detection of csPCa (Gleason Grade Group ≥ 2). Secondary outcomes included detection of Gleason Grade Group 1 cancer and negative biopsies. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) based on a propensity score was applied to adjust for baseline differences. Doubly robust weighted logistic regression models were used, with predefined subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Results: Among 1032 included patients, 931 underwent TR–SBx and 101 TP–LFx. After restriction to the region of common support, 528 patients were retained for IPTW analyses. In the IPTW-adjusted analysis, TP–LFx was associated with higher csPCa detection compared with TR–SBx (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–4.52; p = 0.002) and with lower detection of Gleason Grade Group 1 cancer (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.27–0.92; p = 0.03). Subgroup analyses suggested a stronger association in patients with prior negative biopsy and in anterior or apical lesions. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice, transitioning from a transrectal systematic-based biopsy strategy to a transperineal lesion-focused approach was associated with improved detection of csPCa and reduced overdiagnosis. These findings support the consideration of transperineal, lesion-focused MRI-guided biopsy strategies in contemporary prostate cancer diagnostics. Full article

Review

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13 pages, 281 KB  
Review
Therapeutic Intensification Based on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
by Pierre-Etienne Gabriel, Amir Horowitz, Felix Guerrero-Ramos, Francesco Soria, Marco Moschini, David D’Andrea, Benjamin Pradère, John P. Sfakianos and Evanguelos Xylinas
Cancers 2025, 17(21), 3555; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17213555 - 2 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Systemic immunotherapy, previously used mainly for advanced urothelial carcinoma, now plays an important role in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), either alone or combined with intravesical BCG instillations. Methods: We conducted a collaborative, comprehensive review to summarize the key [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Systemic immunotherapy, previously used mainly for advanced urothelial carcinoma, now plays an important role in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), either alone or combined with intravesical BCG instillations. Methods: We conducted a collaborative, comprehensive review to summarize the key evidence and future perspectives on therapeutic intensification strategies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in NMIBC. A total of 51 references published between 2000 and 2025 were included. Results: Four phase II studies evaluated pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, and cetrelimab as monotherapy in 28 to 132 BCG-unresponsive NMIBC patients. They reported complete response rates ranging from 12% to 43% after 3 to 12 months of treatment, with a durable response rate ranging from 49% to 57.4% at 12 months. To improve these results, a phase II trial launched this year tests a new systemic combination targeting both the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and the emerging HLA-E/NKG2A pathway. Regarding BCG-naïve high-risk (HR) NMIBC, four phase III studies are evaluating BCG instillations combined with systemic immunotherapy: sasanlimab (CREST), durvalumab (POTOMAC), atezolizumab (ALBAN), and pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-676), with significant results reported for the CREST and POTOMAC trials. The key challenge remains selecting patients most likely to benefit from this combination therapy while avoiding overtreatment. Identifying predictive biomarkers of tumor aggressiveness and response to immunotherapy also represents a major future challenge. Conclusions: Therapeutic intensification using systemic immunotherapy applies to both BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, with a new target pathway (HLA-E/NKG2A), and BCG-naïve HR NMIBC, where the combination of BCG instillations and immunotherapy represents a major breakthrough. Full article
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