Prostate cancer is the second-leading killer of men, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). And while there are many effective procedures and treatments for prostate cancer, still more than 27,000 men will die this year from their disease. Fortunately, a new treatment just approved by the FDA – a prostate cancer vaccine – might help prolong the life of men with advanced or metastatic disease who have no further treatment options.
How Does the Vaccine Work?
Provenge®, the approved vaccine, acts by enhancing the body's immune system (the system that helps fight disease), which then goes after the prostate cancer cells or tumors that are present in the body. According to the ACS, the vaccine is designed to treat existing cancer rather than prevent disease from occurring. Studies show that on average the vaccine prolongs the life of a man with advanced prostate cancer by 4.5 months. But the vaccine does not cure the disease because the tumors do eventually grow back.
According to the ACS, common side effects include chills, fatigue, fever, and back pain. A small percentage (about 5 percent) of men who received the vaccine had a stroke.
Men who might be eligible to receive such a vaccine are patients with advanced or metastatic disease who are no longer responding to traditional hormonal treatments. In other words, their cancer has become resistant to those treatments. But these same men may have a positive response to Provenge® or to other similar vaccines under development.
How Common is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men after skin cancer, according to the ACS. Men should talk with their doctor about screening for prostate cancer since early detection can improve the chances for survival. Men with advanced prostate cancer should talk with their doctor about important new options, such as Provenge®, that may exist for them. |
