A. Oliver Sartor, MD, presented “Immunotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer” during the 26th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium conference on April 15, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
How to cite: Sartor, A. Oliver “Immunotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer.” April 15, 2023. Accessed Aug 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/immunotherapy-in-metastatic-prostate-cancer/
Immunotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer – Summary
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.
About the 26th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium:
This conference educated attendees about advances in the management of localized and advanced prostate cancer, with a focus on imaging, technology, and training in the related devices. It included a scientific session, as well as live demonstrations of surgical techniques. You can learn more about the conference here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sartor earned his MD from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1982. After training at the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane Medical School, he completed a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, where he focused on advanced prostate cancer therapies. He held positions at LSU Medical School and LSU Health Sciences Center, directing oncology programs before joining Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 2006. In 2008, he returned to Tulane University as the C. E. and Bernadine Laborde Professor of Cancer Research.
An internationally recognized expert in prostate cancer, Dr. Sartor’s interests have focused broadly on prostate cancer, predominantly in those patients who failed initial therapies. His publications range from genetic studies on prostate cancer to clinical trials involving novel agents. He has been a lead author on two studies pivotal for FDA drug approval in prostate cancer and has been the PI or co-PI on a number of prospective international clinical trials evaluating new therapies for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Having published over 500 scholarly articles and having served as the past Chairman of the Department of Defense Prostate Integration Panel, Dr. Sartor, in addition to being the C.E. and Bernadine Laborde Professor of Cancer Research in the Departments of Medicine and Urology, is the Medical Oncology Chair of the GU Committee of the NRG, the Assistant Dean for Oncology at Tulane University School of Medicine, the Medical Director of the Tulane Cancer Center, and the Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Genitourinary Cancer. In addition, he is currently a member of the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors (Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology).
