Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: 2019 Immunotherapy Research Update

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and time to check on our progress in this devastating disease. The second most common male cancer in the world, prostate cancer will impact an estimated one in every seven men in their lifetimes. While highly treatable in early stages, advanced prostate cancer needs new, effective treatment options.

We’re thrilled that our first patient has begun treatment in our Anna-Maria Kellen Clinical Accelerator prostate cancer trial (nicknamed PORTER), organized in collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and four of our industry partners. With each new development from the lab to the clinic, we come closer to beating a cancer that affects roughly 1.3 million people worldwide. We look forward to sharing results from this trial with you in the future.

Prostate Cancer Research and Treatment Landscape

We spoke with Sumit K. Subudhi, MD, PhD, of the The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a leading expert in prostate cancer and one of our PORTER trial investigators. He discusses the mechanics of therapeutic vaccine treatment, the challenges of checkpoint immunotherapies, and understanding the tumor microenvironment.

READ INTERVIEW WITH DR. SUMIT SUBUDHI

Prostate Cancer Patient Spotlight

When Andy Packard's prostate cancer did not respond to chemotherapy and hormone therapy, he and his wife, Johanna, traveled from their home in California to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas for surgery followed by an immunotherapy clinical trial of ipilimumab (Yervoy®). His oncologist, Dr. Sumit Subudhi, said that Andy had one of the best responses to immunotherapy, reflecting with his team, “this is why we do what we do.” Today Andy remains active and healthy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANDY'S FIGHT AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate Cancer Scientist Spotlight

Anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibition is thought to work by decreasing the ability of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to suppress cancer-fighting immune responses. CRI Postdoctoral Fellow Christophe Pedros, PhD, at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology is investigating how a Treg enzyme and a CTLA4-associated protein complex promote Treg activity. His work may result in new ways to promote anti-cancer immune responses with fewer side effects by targeting this enzyme in patients receiving immunotherapy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. CHRISTOPHE PEDROS'S WORK

Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer Updated

With new breakthroughs in immunotherapy, we keep our prostate cancer information up to date. There is currently one approved immunotherapy option for prostate cancer, but several immunotherapy options are now being tested in clinical trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Discover the different proteins, pathways, and platforms that scientists and physicians are pursuing to develop new cancer treatments.

VIEW IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER WEBPAGE

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials

In addition to CRI Clinical Accelerator’s PORTER trial, there are many immunotherapy clinical trial options for prostate cancer. Our Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trial Finder will aid you in finding your answer to cancer. Understand the basics of cancer clinical trials and what to consider about enrolling, access cutting-edge treatments, and help the next generation of doctors and patients.

FIND A PROSTATE CLINICAL TRIAL

Support Prostate Cancer Research

At the Cancer Research Institute, we've provided more than 100 research grants to scientific studies and initiatives in the field of prostate cancer, including work by such leaders as Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, who has conducted innovative studies testing the effects of anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade in the pre-surgical setting. We will continue to make progress against this difficult disease only with your help. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Help make a difference.

DONATE TO PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH