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Cancer research

Breakthrough in Prostate Cancer Treatment: Combination Therapy Shows Promising Results

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the University of Washington have made a significant discovery in the field of prostate cancer treatment, reporting promising results from a clinical trial combining a cancer vaccine with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The study, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, found that the combination therapy led to increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, circulating tumor-associated antigen-specific T cells, and radiographic and biochemical responses in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved two cohorts of patients: one with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the other with localized prostate cancer who were candidates for radical prostatectomy.
  • The combination therapy of PROSTVAC vaccine and nivolumab led to a 2-fold increase in CD4+ T helper cell and CD8+ T-cell densities in radical prostatectomy samples compared to baseline in most patients (91% and 83% of patients, respectively).
  • Proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells also increased in radical prostatectomy samples compared to baseline.
  • Most patients from both cohorts (lead-in and neoadjuvant) had a 2-fold increase in PSA-specific (82% and 58%), MUC-1-specific (64% and 73%), and brachyury-specific (70% and 82%) T cells after therapy.

Statistics:

  • 370,000 men die from prostate cancer yearly worldwide.
  • The study enrolled 24 patients, with 12 in the lead-in cohort and 12 in the neoadjuvant cohort.
  • 2 patients in the lead-in cohort had a prolonged complete radiographic response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors V.1.1.
  • In the neoadjuvant cohort, CD4+ T helper cell and CD8+ T-cell densities were increased by 2-fold in radical prostatectomy samples compared to baseline in most patients (91% and 83% of patients, respectively).

Sources:

  • Programmed death-1 inhibition increases vaccine-induced T-cell infiltration in patients with prostate cancer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 2025, 13(6). (Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer - http://www.immunotherapyofcancer.org/)
  • Bavarian Nordic
  • The National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
  • Intramural Research Program of The Center For Cancer Research, Nci, Nih.

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