PLATELET-BASED NANOPARTICLE THERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER

The goal of this proposal is to develop directed energy transfer methods for imaging, tissue ablation and release of therapeutic modalities targeted to the vasculature of prostate cancer. The platform technology is a freeze-dried human platelet (Stasix particles) that contains super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles. The pre-clinical model for validation is the angiogenic human vasculature present in primary xenografts of human prostate tissue (the AngioGraft Assay). SPIO nanoparticles loaded into Stasix particles can be manipulated with electromagnetic fields to generate physical motion for acoustic and thermal responses, activation of the Stasix particle, or release of therapeutic agents. The specific deliverable of this Phase I program is the demonstration that SPIO nanoparticle-loaded Stasix platelets localize specifically to the vasculature of human prostate cancer primary xenografts, and respond to directed energy transfer to provide a targeted imaging readout and/or thermal/acoustic/hemostatic response in prostate cancer tissue. The demonstration of proof-of-concept in this Phase I program with primary xenografts of human prostate cancer will form the basis for a Phase II program focused on full characterization of the specificity and resolution of multiple imaging formats with SPIO platelet-based formulations for entry into human trials.