Sub-lethal temperature elevations in the tumour incurred during laser cancer therapy can induce heat shock protein (HSP) expression leading to enhanced tumour survival and recurrence. Nanoshells utilised in combination with laser therapy can potentially enable selective heat deposition, greater thermal injury, and diminished HSP expression in the tumour. The study objective was to measure the distribution of temperature and HSP expression in prostate tumours in response to laser therapy alone or with nanoshells to determine if these combinatorial therapies can minimise HSP expression.