In recent years, significant progress has been made in the management of genitourinary cancers, primarily due to advancements in surgical techniques, the emergence of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and the refinement of chemotherapy agents. However, despite the expanding arsenal of treatment modalities, some patients still face challenges associated with drug resistance, which hinders efforts to improve survival rates. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA molecules with a stable structure and a unique ability to form reverse splicing loops. Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal expression of circRNAs is significantly correlated with the occurrence of genitourinay cancers, indicating their potentials as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as new targets for treatment. Although research on circRNAs in genitourinary cancers has progressed, it is still in the preliminary stage. This review summarizes the properties and functions of circRNAs, focusing on their molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in mediating cancer-related drug resistance in the genitourinary system, including autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and glycolysis, etc. The clinical potential of circRNAs in regulating drug resistance is also carefully discussed.
Keywords: Bladder cancer; Circular RNA; Drug resistance; Prostate cancer; Renal cell carcinoma.
© 2025. The Author(s).