About this Research Topic

Background

Urologic tumors encompass cancers of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testis, and adrenal glands. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in understanding the genomic landscape of urologic tumors, leading to the emergence of novel therapeutic strategies.

A particularly exciting area of research lies in genomic sequencing, enabling the identification of specific genetic mutations and biomarkers that can be targeted with drugs. For instance, drugs targeting the androgen receptor (AR) pathway, such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, have shown efficacy in treating prostate cancers with genetic alterations in this pathway. Additionally, drugs like sunitinib and pazopanib, which target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, have significantly improved survival rates for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Another promising avenue of research focuses on repurposing drugs for tumor treatment. This approach offers a valuable means of discovering new cancer treatments by utilizing drugs already approved for other conditions and with known pharmacology. By doing so, researchers can reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with drug development while still providing effective therapies. For instance, beta-blockers, commonly used for high blood pressure and heart disease, have demonstrated potential in reducing the risk of cancer spread and improving survival in patients with prostate and bladder cancers.

Overall, genomic discoveries in urologic tumors have yielded fresh insights into the mechanisms of cancer progression, leading to the development of personalized therapies and new treatments. This Research Topic aims to gather articles that shed light on the interaction between genomics and pharmacology, driving new investigations into the mechanisms of urologic cancer and the development of innovative anti-cancer drugs.

We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Preclinical studies: Assessing the safety and efficacy of potential drugs through animal models that closely mimic human tumors.
• Clinical trials: Robust trials to determine the safety, efficacy, and dosing of drugs developed for urologic tumors, yielding reliable data on drug performance.
• Artificial intelligence: Leveraging AI in genomic analysis for target identification and drug development, leading to accelerated discoveries and advancements.
• Drug screening and in vivo studies: Identifying drugs targeting specific pathways through screening, followed by in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate efficacy and toxicity.
• Modification of existing drugs: Enhancing the safety, effectiveness, and range of uses of approved drugs through modifications, combination therapies, molecular alterations, or improved delivery methods.

Keywords: Urologic tumors, cancer biomarkers, drug screen, drug repurposing, genomic sequence

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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