Assessment of Urine and Serum Exosomes as Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in the urinary tract and the tenth most common malignancy worldwide. Exosomes are 40–100 nm-diameter nanovesicles that are either released straight from the plasma membrane during budding or merged with the plasma membrane by multivesicular bodies. Objectives: To assess the proportion of serum and urinary Exosome levels in urinary bladder cancer patients, as well as their impact on the disease. Methods: From January 2023 to June 2023, a total of 45 samples of blood and urine were collected from individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer at the Ghazi Hariri Hospital for Specialized Surgery. They included 45 male and female patients, varying in age, as well as 45 healthy controls. The samples were analyzed for exosome levels using the ELISA method. Results: The mean serum and urine exosome levels in the patients' group (14.18 and 20.04) were significantly higher than in the control group (8.21 and 8.94), respectively. Serum exosomes exhibited a significant positive and moderate correlation with urine exosome levels. Conclusions: Serum and urine levels of exosomes can be used as biomarkers to detect bladder cancer, and the urine level seems to be preferential.