Using tiny silica particles to improve surgery for high-risk prostate cancer
Official title: Molecular Phenotyping and Image-Guidance for Surgical Treatment of High-Risk Prostate Cancer Using Ultrasmall Silica Nanoparticles
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-10784691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help patients with high-risk prostate cancer by using special tiny particles that light up cancerous tissues during surgery, making it easier for doctors to see and remove all the cancer while reducing the chances of it coming back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $317,911 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA243085-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10784691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer who may require surgical intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-risk prostate cancer or those who are not candidates for surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing surgical outcomes for patients with high-risk prostate cancer by developing advanced imaging techniques. It aims to create ultrabright silica nanoparticles that can specifically target and identify cancerous tissues during surgery. By using these nanoparticles, surgeons can better visualize and remove metastatic lymph nodes and ensure that no cancerous cells are left behind, potentially reducing the risk of recurrence. The approach combines molecular phenotyping with real-time imaging to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective surgical treatments for high-risk prostate cancer, improving survival rates and reducing complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using targeted imaging techniques for cancer surgery, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradbury, Michelle S — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Bradbury, Michelle S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Overcoming Resistance to AR-Targeted Therapy in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Researchers are studying why some high-risk prostate cancers stop responding to AR pathway inhibitors and trying new strategies to improve outcomes for men with aggressive, localized disease.
-
Tumor environment players in advanced prostate cancer spread
Researchers are studying how the tissue around prostate tumors helps cancer spread, in men with high-risk disease.
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Integrated genomic and AI pathology biomarkers to guide high-risk prostate cancer treatment
A prostate cancer research project tests how genomic and AI-based pathology tools can help tailor who should receive added ARSI therapy with standard radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
-
Mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This project looks at changes in mitochondrial DNA and cell energy systems in men, especially African American men, with high‑risk prostate cancer to find markers that predict who will develop aggressive disease.
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Understanding mitochondrial changes in high-risk prostate cancer
This study is looking at how changes in mitochondrial DNA might affect prostate cancer in African American men, who are more likely to face serious cases, with the hope of finding ways to predict and improve treatment for those at risk.
-
How high-risk prostate tumors and nearby cells kick off cancer spread
This project looks at how high-risk prostate tumors and the immune and support cells around them start to spread by using advanced scans and detailed analysis of removed prostate tissue.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.