Decoding the RNA cargo of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles in advanced prostate cancer

Laboratory of Computational and Functional Oncology

Liquid biopsies offer a non-invasive way to monitor cancer by analyzing
molecular signals circulating in blood. In this study, we focused on extracellular vesicles
(EVs), tiny carriers of RNA and other biomolecules, isolated from the plasma of patients with
metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Using total RNA sequencing, we uncovered
both tumor- and immune-derived RNA signals, revealing insights into disease biology and
treatment response. Notably, EV-RNA provided valuable information even when circulating
tumor DNA was undetectable. These results highlight the potential of EV-RNA analysis to
enhance cancer monitoring and improve prognostic assessments.