前列腺癌（PCa）是发病率非常高的恶性肿瘤，仅次于肺癌，位居第二位。尽管有许多药物可用于治疗前列腺癌，但其有效性和抗癌机制仍需探索。原子力显微镜（AFM）可以表征细胞表面微小的形态变化，为在纳米水平上探索药物与细胞之间的相互作用以及进一步研究前列腺癌的治疗机制提供了有效的方法。在我们的研究中，AFM 可视化了经过著名抗癌剂紫杉醇 (PTX) 处理后的 PC3M 细胞膜中的孔状结构。这些孔的直径、深度和数量均与浓度和时间相关。活性氧（ROS）被证明可以解聚肌动蛋白细胞骨架，使膜对氧化损伤更加敏感，从而诱导孔信息。用ROS清除剂预处理后，可以防止孔隙形成。 AFM 成像技术为癌症药物靶向治疗提供了一种新的评估方法。版权所有 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. 保留所有权利。

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignant tumor with a very high incidence which ranks second after lung cancer. Although there are many drugs available for the treatment of PCa, their effectiveness and anti-cancer mechanisms still need to be explored. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) could characterize minor morphological changes on cell surfaces, which provides an effective method to explore the interaction between drugs and cells at the nanometer level and further investigate the mechanisms for treating PCa. In our research, AFM visualized pore-like structures in the PC3M cell membrane after treatment with the eminent anticancer agent paclitaxel (PTX). The diameter, depth and number of these pores were in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was shown to depolymerize the actin cytoskeleton and make the membrane more sensitive to oxidative damage, thus inducing pore information. After pretreatment with a ROS scavenger, pore formation was prevented. AFM imaging technology provides a new evaluation method for drug-targeted therapy for cancer.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.