Immunotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
A. Oliver Sartor, MD, highlights immunotherapy and its goal of harnessing and enhancing the body’s immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells. He emphasizes the distinct mechanisms of immunotherapeutic agents compared to traditional treatments, noting their potential to offer durable responses and improved survival outcomes in specific patient populations.
Dr. Sartor reviews sipuleucel-T, the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and its ability to extend overall survival, despite minimal impact on disease progression markers like PSA levels. He also addresses the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, particularly for mCRPC patients with specific biomarkers like microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). He presents data from recent studies showing promising responses in these subsets of patients, highlighting the importance of genetic profiling in identifying candidates for checkpoint inhibition.
Additionally, Dr. Sartor explores emerging immunotherapeutic approaches, including the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and novel vaccines targeting prostate-specific antigens. He discusses the ongoing clinical trials evaluating these innovative treatments and their potential to transform the therapeutic landscape of metastatic prostate cancer.
