Provenge, despite its demonstrated survival advantage, continues to be knocked as a viable treatment for men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer. What is Provenge? Provenge is immunotherapy for men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. In other words, Provenge might help men live longer after their cancer has spread outside of the prostate and are no [...]
Despite its approval five years ago sipuleucel-T (Provenge) remains one of the most controversial treatments available for men with castrate resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC). Provenge has its advocates (Full Disclosure- I am) and it has many detractors. The detractors argue that it doesn’t work and they hang their hat on the argument that it [...]
Immunotherapy has a major and expanding role in the treatment of cancer, including advanced prostate cancer. Over time there have been a number of naysayers as the immunotherapy Provenge has played the role whipping boy by critics. The common criticism leveled at Provenge can be summed up simply, “It doesn’t work.” The plain truth is [...]
It was announced today that preliminary results from the Phase II STAND trial demonstrates continued and what is described as a robust immune response with Provenge (sipuleucel-T) that continues two years after completing treatment in men with biochemically-recurrent prostate cancer (BRPC). This finding, along with data from the ongoing Phase IV registry PROCEED trial, are [...]
Dendreon, the manufacture of the only FDA approved immunologic therapy for prostate cancer had been burdened with significant debt. The debt came from their R&D of Provenge, their seeking FDA approval and the construction of three manufacturing plants to produce the treatment. Sadly, the company was unable to get its income ahead of its debt [...]
It was announced this morning that Dendreon (the manufactures of Provenge) has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. After having spoken with a representative at Dendreon I have learned that the company has been in negotiations with its creditors and agreed to voluntarily file for financial reorganization. The agreement that Dendreon has reached with their [...]
Provenge or Sipuleucel-T (sip-T) remains not well understood by many prostate cancer survivors as well as some treating physicians. Because Provenge does not immediately control PSA or disease progression it creates a situation where some individuals are skeptical as to its efficacy. This is true despite the clear survival advantage demonstrated in clinical trials. This [...]
Last April there was some preliminary data from the long-term Phase II STAND study presented at 29th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress that showed that sipuleucel-T (Provenge) when given after the start of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) seemed to enhance and sustain the immune response in men with a biochemical failure (PSA only) [...]
What will happen when enzalutamide (Xtandi) is approved for use in advanced prostate cancer in the disease stage prior to chemotherapy (that is if it is approved)? Already occupying this space and already approved by the FDA is both Provenge and abiraterone (Zytiga). Where will Xtandi fit in? Until we have a lot more data, [...]
There will be an abstract presented at the Upcoming (May 31- June 3) American Society of Clinical Oncologist Annual Meeting (ASCO) providing very preliminary data on a clinical trial combing Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) and enzalutamide (Xtandi) in men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This rational for conducting this trial is the lack of cross [...]
