Combination Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Recurring Prostate Cancer

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A new study has found that combining a cancer vaccine with hormone-deprivation therapy can help patients with recurring prostate cancer. The clinical trial, led by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), was conducted to treat patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who were experiencing rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which can indicate recurrence of the disease. The study, published in the August 2005 issue of the Journal of Urology, is the first to combine antiandrogen therapy and a cancer vaccine for treating prostate cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 42 prostate cancer patients who were randomly assigned to receive either the cancer vaccine or second-line antiandrogen treatment, which consisted of the hormone nilutamide.
  • The median time before treatment failed was 9.9 months for individuals who received the vaccine alone compared to 7.6 months for patients on nilutamide alone.
  • However, when patients who received the vaccine alone had nilutamide added to their treatment regimens after 6 months, they experienced an additional median time of 13.9 months until treatment failure, for a total of 25.9 months from the beginning of their treatments.
  • Patients in this group experienced severe adverse reactions involving lung toxicities, an uncommon side effect sometimes associated with nilutamide.
  • The study suggests that combining antiandrogen therapy with the vaccine may be effective in treating nonmetastatic prostate cancer, with the vaccine "priming" the immune system and allowing the hormone treatment to work more effectively.
  • Arlen and his NCI colleagues are planning a follow-up study using the vaccine and antiandrogen at the same time, instead of sequentially, in similar patients.

Statistics:

  • 42 prostate cancer patients participated in the study.
  • Median time before treatment failed for individuals who received the vaccine alone was 9.9 months.
  • Median time before treatment failed for patients on nilutamide alone was 7.6 months.
  • 12 of the 21 vaccine recipients had nilutamide added to their treatment regimens after 6 months.
  • Patients in the combined treatment group experienced an additional median time of 13.9 months until treatment failure, for a total of 25.9 months from the beginning of their treatments.

Sources:

  • Arlen PM, Gulley, JL, Todd N, et al., Antiandrogen, vaccine and combination therapy in patients with nonmetastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer. J Urol, August 2005.
  • Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
  • NewsRx.com.