The possibility of diagnosing cancer through non-invasive methods, such as AI-assisted blood or urine tests that detect exosomes, is becoming more feasible according to a recent narrative review. The review was led by Professor Mohammad Harb Semreen from the University of Sharjah and published in Clinica Chimica Acta. It analyzed over 100 studies published between 2018 and 2025.
Exosomes are small particles released by nearly all cells in the body. In cancer, these particles carry proteins, genetic material, lipids, and metabolites that reflect the state of tumors. Researchers believe that analyzing the molecular content of exosomes can provide detailed information about how cancers develop and respond to treatment.
"By decoding the molecular 'cargo' of these exosomes through a multi-omics approach—combining proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics—we can build a detailed map of how cancers communicate, grow, and evade treatment," said Prof. Semreen. "This gives researchers a new way to discover precise, reliable biomarkers that can detect cancer earlier, predict how aggressive it might become, and monitor how patients respond to therapy."
Advancements in artificial intelligence are helping scientists analyze large molecular datasets to identify patterns not visible to humans. This could lead to faster and more accurate identification of cancer biomarkers.
Prof. Semreen stated: "Exosomes can be collected from simple body fluids such as blood or urine, meaning that one day cancer could be tracked through a non-invasive liquid biopsy instead of painful tissue samples."
The review highlights that exosomes play an active role in tumor progression by influencing spread, immune response evasion, and drug resistance.
Combining multi-omics data with artificial intelligence may help researchers identify clinically relevant signals from these vesicles. This integration moves science closer to personalized diagnostics where routine blood tests could reveal early signs of disease and guide treatment decisions.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there were about 20 million new cases globally in 2022 with nearly 10 million deaths reported during the same year. About one in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime.
Fatima Maher Al-Daffaie, PhD candidate at University of Sharjah's College of Pharmacy and lead author on the study said: "Exosomes carry the whispers of cancer cells—we're learning how to listen. By decoding exosomes, we can catch cancer earlier and treat it more intelligently.
"Our aim is to turn a simple blood test into a powerful diagnostic tool. These nano-messengers give us a real-time view of what's happening inside tumors. What once required surgery may soon be done with a drop of blood."
Prof. Semreen also commented on future applications: "The most immediate application is the development of liquid biopsies—simple blood or urine tests that analyze exosomes to detect cancer at its earliest stages, monitor treatment response, and even predict relapse before symptoms appear."
He added: "Because exosomes carry the same molecular fingerprints as their parent tumor cells, they provide a real-time, non-invasive snapshot of what's happening inside the body. This could allow physicians to move away from traditional tissue biopsies toward safer, faster, and more repeatable tests that track disease over time."
Another potential use for exosomes is as drug delivery vehicles: "These nanoscale vesicles can be engineered to transport anti-cancer drugs, RNA molecules or even gene-editing tools directly to tumor cells," said Prof. Semreen.
Ahmad Abuhelwa from University of Sharjah noted: "Exosomes offer a living snapshot of cancer's behavior. By analyzing their molecular signatures we can personalize treatment and monitor how each patient's tumor evolves over time."
He continued: "What makes this research so exciting is its potential to revolutionize diagnostics. By integrating multi-omics data and artificial intelligence we can interpret the vast complexity of cancer biology in a way that is clinically actionable."
Although no formal collaborations have been established yet with industry or healthcare institutions regarding this research area according to its authors; interest continues growing globally among biotechnology companies investing in precision medicine technologies related to exosome-based diagnostics.
