Volume 11, Number 1Review ArticlesThe Role of Immunotherapy in Prostate Cancer: An Overview of Current Approaches in DevelopmentTreatment ReviewJohn M CormanMichael RiskOngoing clinical trials provide promise for the introduction of immunotherapy into the armamentarium against prostate cancer, but the precise role for immunotherapy remains to be determined. Combinations of immunotherapies may be needed to improve the response rates and the duration of response. Investigators have begun to examine the effect of immunotherapy in combination with other standard treatment, including as an adjuvant to chemotherapy or radiotherapy and as a neoadjuvant agent before prostatectomy. Although many studies examine efficacy in men with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer, there is some evidence for improved responses at earlier stages of disease: the ability of the tumor to evade the immune system may be lessened with lower tumor burden, or the immune system may already be weakened in men with later stages of disease.[Rev Urol. 2009;11(1):16-27]Prostate cancerImmunotherapyVaccine
Volume 12, Number 1Review ArticlesEmerging Vaccine Therapy Approaches for Prostate CancerTreatment UpdateKevin M SlawinGuru SonpavdeDavid M SpencerJonathan M LevittProstate cancer vaccines attempt to induce clinically relevant, cancer-specific systemic immune responses in patients with prostate cancer and represent a new class of targeted, nontoxic therapies. With a growing array of vaccine technologies in preclinical or clinical development, autologous antigen-presenting cell vaccines loaded with the antigen, prostate acid phosphatase, and poxvirus vaccines targeting prostate-specific antigen have recently demonstrated a significant survival benefit in randomized trials of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, whereas others have failed to demonstrate any benefit. The combination of vaccines with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other biologic agents is also being evaluated. Efforts to optimize vaccine approaches and select ideal patient populations need to continue to build on these early successes.[Rev Urol. 2010;12(1):25-34 doi:10.3909/riu0437]Prostate cancerImmunotherapyVaccine