A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia, Mount Sinai, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas, and others has unveiled the clinical success of an innovative nanoparticle-based, laser-guided therapy for prostate cancer treatment. The study involved 44 men with localized prostate cancer and employed gold nanoshells combined with advanced imaging techniques, specifically magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound fusion, to accurately target and eliminate cancerous tissue. Gold nanoshells are microscopic particles, thousands of times smaller than a human hair, designed to absorb specific wavelengths of light and generate heat. In this therapy, these nanoshells accumulate in the tumors, enabling focused near-infrared laser treatment that heats and destroys cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissues.
This innovative approach, known as nanoparticle-directed focal photothermal ablation, successfully eradicated cancerous cells in 73% of patients after 12 months, as confirmed by negative biopsies in the treated areas. Notably, this treatment maintained crucial functions such as urinary and sexual health, without any observed side effects, significantly enhancing the patients’ quality of life. Dr. Jennifer L. West, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia and co-author of the study, emphasized that the findings mark a major advancement in prostate cancer treatment, effectively eliminating cancer while preserving key quality-of-life factors. She also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving this innovative breakthrough. The new therapy is being commercialized by Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., a company co-founded by Dr. West, paving the way for its wider application in clinical settings.
Read More
