Gold nanorod–assisted theranostic solution for nonvisible residual disease in bladder cancer
Menée in vitro et à l'aide de modèles murins de cancer de la vessie, cette étude met en évidence l'intérêt de nanobâtonnets d'or ciblant l'intégrine alpha5bêta1 pour détecter et traiter par hyperthermie les cellules cancéreuses résiduelles
Résumé en anglais
Residual disease in bladder cancer is responsible for tumor recurrence and progression and is caused by technological and therapeutic limitations. This study demonstrated the feasibility of a theranostic solution represented by the intravesical instillation of urine-stable gold nanorods as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging and assisted hyperthermia via the photothermal effect. The solution allowed the detection of lesions <1 mm and killing of tumor cells by necrosis. The nanoparticles are targeted against the tumor-specific integrin α5β1, expressed by the neoplasia in the preclinical model and 81% of high-grade nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer in humans. Clinical validation studies will support the potential of this strategy as a complementary solution in clinical practice to reduce the risk of residual bladder cancer disease. Residual nonvisible bladder cancer after proper treatment caused by technological and therapeutic limitations is responsible for tumor relapse and progression. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a solution for simultaneous detection and treatment of bladder cancer lesions smaller than one millimeter. The α5β1 integrin was identified as a specific marker in 81% of human high-grade nonmuscle invasive bladder cancers and used as a target for the delivery of targeted gold nanorods (GNRs). In a preclinical model of orthotopic bladder cancer expressing the α5β1 integrin, the photoacoustic imaging of targeted GNRs visualized lesions smaller than one millimeter, and their irradiation with continuous laser was used to induce GNR-assisted hyperthermia. Necrosis of the tumor mass, improved survival, and computational modeling were applied to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this solution. Our study highlights the potential of the GNR-assisted theranostic strategy as a complementary solution in clinical practice to reduce the risk of nonvisible residual bladder cancer after current treatment. Further validation through clinical studies will support the findings of the present study.
