Nanoparticles Will Eliminate Side Effects in Prostate Cancer Treatment

A recent study published in the 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 tumors.

Treatment based on these nanoparticles will allow for targeted action against cancer cells without damaging critical structures of the prostate. Experts 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. The treatment of localized prostate tumors 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 considered a new approach in the treatment of low-aggressive, locally confined prostate tumors. It is equally effective but associated with significantly fewer 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 altering 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 nanoscale particles are eliminated through the liver, with some remaining in the liver and spleen. They do not cause any side effects.

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 guidance, which employs MRI technology to obtain a tissue sample directly from the tumor 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 magnetic resonance imaging again, and after three months and a year, targeted biopsy under visual control and standard biopsy were performed.

The results showed that focal laser ablation using silicon-gold nanoparticles was effective in nearly 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 procedure planning. In the others, complete disappearance of prostate tumors was noted. Moreover, no serious side effects were observed in any of the patients.

“The use of AuroShells nanoparticles combined with subsequent laser treatment allows for targeted cancer treatment, affecting only the tumor 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.”