Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancy in North American males causing more than 30,000 deaths each year, up to 30% experience recurrence.
Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are the usual treatment available to these patients, but many patients have progressed to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and chemotherapy has significant side effects.
A new study was published online in the journal Maturitas in May about a novel therapeutic cancer vaccine, Sipuleucel-T, or Provenge, produced by Dendreon Ltd, for the treatment of CRPC after randomized trials showed significant survival advantage compared to controls.
In April 2010, the US FDA approved the vaccine therapy for advanced prostate cancer that has failed to respond to hormone therapy. The therapy involves taking the patient's own immune cells, externally activated against prostate cancer antigen PAP and infuse back into the patient. The patient's own immune system will then create T-cells to attack these cells.
Provenge does not cure prostate cancer but trials show that it extends survival by 4 months or years for some patients. Phase I and Phase II trials show that the vaccine is safe but some patients suffer side effects such as fatigue, headache, back pain, joint pain etc. It is advised that patients should discuss the risks and benefits with their physicians.
Source: "Vaccine therapy with sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for prostate cancer". Maturitas 2011 Aug;69(4):296-303. Epub 2011 May 31
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