Liquid biopsy in the detection and prediction of outcomes in bladder cancer

In summarizing the results presented in this Research Topic, the advent of liquid biopsy has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of bladder cancers. It offers non-invasive and sensitive molecular approaches to detect the onset and progression of the disease and unravel complex molecular dynamics. Bladder cancer is a globally prevalent disease that affects both sexes but is more common in men than women (1 in 28 men, 1 in 89 women). Due to the high recurrence rate, two major challenges are early detection of asymptomatic forms and precise clinical treatment, for which prognostic molecular markers and targets are of fundamental importance. In this context, several recent studies, including Li et al., Wang et al., Yang et al., and Synelnyk have contributed significantly to our understanding of biomarkers useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as the new insights into the application of liquid biopsy.