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Therapeutic Vaccine prolongs survival and
improves quality of life in patients with
Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Newswise — A new prostate cancer vaccine may
give hope to men with metastatic prostate
cancer by enabling their immune systems to
fight the disease.
Researchers from the University of Iowa
presented data on the adenovirus/PSA (Ad/PSA)
vaccine today during the Annual Scientific
Meeting of the American Urological
Association in Orlando. In recent years, the
concept of vaccine immunotherapy for
advanced prostate cancer has become
increasingly high profile as research has
expanded.
Major advances in the field have contributed
significantly to the discussion of this
important cancer therapy as researchers
explore new ways to prolong survival and
improve the quality of life in patients with
metastatic disease..
Prostate cancer cells produce a protein
known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
The goal of immunotherapy for metastatic
disease is to manipulate the body’s immune
system to identify and destroy these cancer
cells throughout the body.
The Ad/PSA vaccine was developed by
inserting the PSA gene into bacteria and
viruses and using immune-stimulatory
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to modulate the
body’s anti-tumor response.
Enabling a patient’s immune system to
produce anti-antigens and attack cancer
cells can improve quality of life and extend
survival. Earlier studies in mice
demonstrated the vaccine’s efficacy as it
produced strong anti-PSA and, as a result,
powerful anti-prostate cancer immunity.
This Phase I clinical trial assessed the
performance of the Ad/PSA vaccine in men
with measurable metastatic prostate cancer.
Patients with D2 or D3 cancers (median age
71, median PSA 128 ng/ml) were treated with
one of three dose levels of the vaccine and
were followed with physical and clinical
chemistry exams at two and three weeks and
two, four, eight and 12 months. Median
follow up was 12 months and median survival
was 18 months.
After receiving the vaccine, at least 40
percent of patients developed immune
responses to PSA, with anti-PSA antibodies
produced in 42 percent of patients and anti-PSA
T-cell responses in 71 percent. 57 percent
of patients survived longer than predicted,
with doubling time increased in 48 percent.
Longest survival was 71 months – nearly six
years.
Lubaroff DM, Konety BR, Link BK, Ratliff TL,
Madsen T, Williams R: Outcomes from a phase
I trial of an adenovirus/PSA vaccine for
prostate cancer. J Urol, suppl., 2008; 179:
184, abstract 526.
About the American Urological Association
Founded in 1902 and headquartered near
Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological
Association is the pre-eminent professional
organization for urologists, with more than
15,000 members throughout the world.
An educational nonprofit organization, the
AUA pursues its mission of fostering the
highest standards of urologic care by
carrying out a wide variety of programs
members and their patients, including
UrologyHealth.org, an award-winning on-line
patient education resource, and the American
Urological Association Foundation, Inc
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