Urologic cancers—including prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular malignancies—are increasingly recognized for their complex genetic and epigenetic underpinnings. These alterations not only drive oncogenesis and tumor progression but also modulate endocrine pathways, influencing hormonal responsiveness and resistance to therapy. Among these, prostate and testicular cancers are particularly notable for their strong endocrine dependencies, making them critical models for studying the intersection of cancer genetics and hormone regulation.

Despite advances in identifying molecular drivers, the intricate network of germline and somatic mutations, DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity demands further investigation to clarify their roles in endocrine signaling and therapeutic vulnerability. Emerging data underscore the need to decipher how these alterations can serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets within a precision medicine framework.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate the latest basic, translational, and clinical research on the genetic and epigenetic landscape of urologic cancers, with a special emphasis on their endocrine dimensions. We welcome contributions that explore how these molecular changes influence hormonal regulation, treatment response, and resistance mechanisms, and how such insights can be translated into individualized therapeutic strategies.

Key themes include, but are not limited to:

- Germline and somatic mutations affecting endocrine pathways
- Epigenetic regulation (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs) in hormonally driven urologic cancers
- Endocrine-related molecular biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment stratification
- Epigenetic therapy and resistance in the context of hormonal treatments
- Integration of multi-omics data to inform endocrine-targeted clinical decision-making

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Endocrine implications of genetic and epigenetic landscapes of urological cancers: unraveling the road from mechanisms to clinical translation