Ultrasmall silica nanoparticles kill prostate tumors and boost antitumor immunity in mice

In preclinical mouse models, PSMA-targeted ultrasmall core-shell silica nanoparticles (Cornell Prime dots) directly induce ferroptotic death in aggressive prostate tumors and reprogram the tumor microenvironment from nonresponsive to highly active against cancer, while sparing healthy tissue. The particles also sensitize tumors to immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade, with combination treatments yielding complete or near-complete remissions and extended survival in several mice, supporting further clinical investigation for this dual-action anti-cancer approach.