Nanoparticles Will Eliminate Side Effects in Prostate Cancer Treatment

A recent study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated that gold nanoparticles designed to convert near-infrared light into heat effectively and safely destroy low- and intermediate-risk prostate tumours.

Treatment based on them will allow targeted action against cancer cells without damaging critical structures of the prostate. Specialists believe that over time it will become a safer alternative to surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, which are associated with a number of negative side effects.

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of oncology among the male population and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Statistics show that one in eleven men will receive this diagnosis during their lifetime. Treatment of localized prostate tumours in the coming years may become a significant challenge due to the increasing frequency of this disease, which is based on the increasing life expectancy of the male population and the widespread implementation of screening programs.

Currently, there are two main methods for treating prostate cancer – radical prostatectomy, which involves the complete removal of the affected organ, and radiation therapy. Both are associated with the risk of negative side effects, the most unpleasant of which are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. However, thanks to scientific and technological progress, oncologists are gaining new opportunities for focal therapy, which is being called a new word in the treatment of low-aggressive, locally confined prostate tumours. It is equally effective but is associated with a much lower number of complications.

In a recent study, scientists tested the effectiveness of AuroLase – a new therapeutic technique developed by the medical company Nanospectra Biosciences. It uses nanoparticles that are quartz microspheres coated with a thin layer of gold, with a diameter of 150 nanometers. They are tuned to interact with light waves of a specific wavelength by changing the thickness of the gold shell.

The nanoparticles, named AuroShells, are designed to absorb energy from near-infrared light and convert it into heat, causing malignant cells to overheat and die. The surrounding tissues remain unharmed. The method has been successfully demonstrated in previous studies on cell cultures and animal models. After treatment, the nanoparticles are eliminated through the liver, with some remaining in the liver and spleen. They do not cause any side reactions.

In the study conducted at the large New York medical center Mount Sinai, sixteen men aged 59 to 80 with well-differentiated forms of prostate cancer (4+3 and lower on the Gleason scale) participated. All were diagnosed using targeted biopsy under magnetic resonance and ultrasound control, which uses MRI technology to obtain a tissue sample directly from the tumour mass.

On the first day, patients were intravenously administered silicon nanoparticles in a gold shell, and on the second day, high-precision laser ablation was performed. On the same day, after several hours of observation, they were discharged home. After two and three days post-procedure, participants underwent repeat magnetic resonance imaging, and three months and a year later – targeted biopsy under visual control and standard biopsy.

The results showed that focal laser ablation using silicon-gold nanoparticles was effective in almost 88% of cases. Only two participants in the study showed signs of disease a year after treatment – specialists attribute this to an incorrect assessment of the extent of the lesion during the planning of the procedure. In the others, complete disappearance of prostate tumours was noted. At the same time, no serious side reactions were observed in any of the patients.

“The use of AuroShell nanoparticles in combination with subsequent laser treatment allows for targeted treatment of cancer, affecting only the tumour focus without touching healthy prostate tissues,” emphasizes the head of the research project. “This preserves the patient's quality of life by reducing undesirable side effects, which may include sexual dysfunction and/or urinary incontinence.”