Gold　nanoparticles　(AuNPs)　are　a　popular　material　in　the　field　of　nanoscience　because　of　their　excellent　biocompatibility　and　unique　physical　and　chemical　properties,　and　have　been　widely　used　in　the　biomedical　field.　AuNPs　have　a　simple　preparation　method,　controllable　shape　and　size,　high　electron　density　and　atomic　number,　superparamagnetic　properties,　and　radiation　sensitization　effect,　and　their　optical　absorbance　can　be　adjusted　to　the　required　biological　window;　thus,　AuNPs　are　suitable　for　cancer　imaging　(photoacoustic　imaging,　computed　tomography,　and　magnetic　resonance　imaging),　photothermal　therapy,　and　radiotherapy.　AuNPs　can　also　be　used　as　carriers　to　load　photosensitizers　or　chemotherapeutic　agents,　and　therefore,　can　also　be　used　in　photodynamic　therapy　and　chemotherapy.　In　summary,　AuNPs　and　their　assemblies　can　simultaneously　realize　cancer　diagnosis　and　treatment,　providing　a　new　idea　in　the　development　of　precision　medical　treatment.　©　2021　The　Authors.　VIEW　published　by　Shanghai　Fuji　Technology　Consulting　Co.,　Ltd,　authorized　by　Professional　Community　of　Experimental　Medicine,　National　Association　of　Health　Industry　and　Enterprise　Management　(PCEM)　and　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Australia,　Ltd.