Nanoparticle therapy offers new hope for prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. 

A ground-breaking study, conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia, Mount Sinai, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas and others, has demonstrated the clinical success of a new nanoparticle-based, laser-guided therapy for prostate cancer treatment. 

The study, which involved 44 men with localized prostate cancer, used gold nanoshellss in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound fusion — an advanced technique that enhances MRI data — to precisely target and eliminate cancerous prostate 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 designed to accumulate in the tumors, allowing for highly targeted near-infrared laser treatment that heats and destroys the cancerous tissue while sparing surrounding healthy cells.

This innovative method, called nanoparticle-directed focal photothermal ablation, successfully eliminated cancerous 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 the quality of life for patients.

"Our findings represent a major step forward in prostate cancer treatment. This therapy not only effectively eliminates cancerous cells but also preserves key quality-of-life factors, which is a huge win for patients," said Jennifer L. West, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia, an author on this paper and inventor of this technology. 

"This study showcases the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration,” West continued. “Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cancer treatment, and it's exciting to be at the forefront of this innovation."

This new cancer treatment is being commercialized by Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc., a company co-founded by Dean West.

A Multi-Institutional Study of Magnetic Resonance/Ultrasound Fusion–Guided Nanoparticle-Directed Focal Therapy for Prostate Ablation was published online September 3, 2024, in the Journal of Urology.

About UVA Engineering: As part of the top-ranked, comprehensive University of Virginia, UVA Engineering is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected engineering schools. Our mission is to make the world a better place by creating and disseminating knowledge and by preparing future engineering leaders. Outstanding students and faculty from around the world choose UVA Engineering because of our growing and internationally recognized education and research programs. UVA is the No. 1 public engineering school in the country for the percentage of women graduates, among schools with at least 75 degree earners; among the top engineering schools in the United States for the four-year graduation rate of undergraduate students; and among the top-growing public engineering schools in the country for the rate of Ph.D. enrollment growth. Our research program has grown by 95% since 2016. Learn more at engineering.virginia.edu.