Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men.
A groundbreaking study, led by researchers at the University of Virginia, Mount Sinai, University of Michigan, University of Texas and others, demonstrated the clinical success of a new laser-guided therapy at nanoparticle base for the treatment of prostate cancer. .
The study, which involved 44 men with localized prostate cancer, used gold nanoshells in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound fusion -; an advanced technique that improves MRI data -; to precisely target and eliminate prostate cancer tissue.
Gold nanoshells are tiny particles, thousands of times smaller than a human hair, that can be engineered to strongly absorb specific wavelengths of light and generate heat. In this case, gold nanoshells were engineered to accumulate in tumors, enabling highly targeted near-infrared laser treatment that heats and destroys cancerous tissue while sparing surrounding healthy cells.
This innovative method, called nanoparticle-directed focal photothermal ablation, successfully eliminated cancer cells in 73% of patients after 12 months, as confirmed by negative biopsies in the treated areas. Importantly, the treatment was able to achieve these results while preserving key functions, including urinary and sexual health, and without observed side effects, marking a significant improvement in patients’ quality of life.
Our results represent a major advance in the treatment of prostate cancer. This therapy not only effectively eliminates cancer cells, but also preserves key quality of life factors, which is a huge win for patients. »
Jennifer L. West, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia, author of this article and inventor of this technology
“This study highlights the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration,” West continued. “Together we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in cancer treatment, and it’s exciting to be at the forefront of this innovation.”
This new cancer treatment is marketed by Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., a company co-founded by Dean West.