SAEDNEWS: In a clinical trial involving 44 prostate cancer patients, the use of gold nanoparticles and laser therapy eradicated the cancerous tumor in 73% of the patients.
According to SAEDNEWS, as reported by Tasnim, a clinical trial involving 44 prostate cancer patients found that using gold nanoparticles and laser therapy eradicated the cancerous tumor in 73% of the patients.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men. A recent study by researchers from the University of Virginia, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas, and several other research centers demonstrated the clinical success of a new treatment method based on nanoparticles. This method uses both nanoparticles and laser therapy to treat prostate cancer. The results of this project have been published in the Journal of Urology.
In this study, which involved 44 men with prostate cancer, gold nanoshells were used in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound fusion. Ultrasound fusion is an advanced method that enhances MRI data quality. Using this technique, researchers were able 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 absorb specific wavelengths of light and generate heat. In this project, gold nanoshells were designed to accumulate in tumors, enabling highly targeted near-infrared laser treatment. They heat and destroy cancerous tissue while leaving surrounding healthy cells intact.
This innovative method, called nanoparticle-directed focal photothermal ablation, successfully eliminated cancerous cells in 73% of patients after 12 months. Importantly, this treatment achieved these results while preserving key functions, including urinary and sexual health, with no observed side effects, indicating a significant improvement in patients' quality of life.
Jennifer L. West, a researcher on this project at the University of Virginia, said: "Our findings represent a major step forward in prostate cancer treatment. This therapy not only effectively eliminates cancer cells but also improves quality of life, which is a significant victory for patients."
Jennifer L. West emphasized: "This study demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, we are pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment and moving at the forefront of this exciting innovation."
