The evolution of immunotherapy for prostate cancer
26 September 2023
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Months and we're looking at how immunotherapy is an evolving and promising approach for treating prostate cancer.
The immune system is a powerful defence mechanism that normally detects and destroys harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. However, cancer cells often manage to evade the immune system's radar.
Immunotherapy aims to change that by boosting the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells just as it would with any other threat.
While prostate cancer has historically been considered less responsive to immunotherapy compared to some other cancer types, there have been significant developments in recent years with promising new drugs.
“A lot of our research now is looking at drugs that can activate the immune system to recognise and attack prostate cancer cells,” Peter Mac’s A/Prof Ben Tran explains.
“As research continues and our understanding of immunotherapy grows, it is likely that this approach will play an increasingly significant role in the fight against prostate cancer, offering patients more treatment options and improved outcomes.
“There are next-generations of these treatments that we’re now working on at Peter Mac and we hope that they will help our patients immensely in the near future”.
Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing these immunotherapy approaches.
Patients with prostate cancer, particularly those with advanced or metastatic disease, may have opportunities to participate in clinical trials to access cutting-edge treatments and contribute to the advancement of prostate cancer immunotherapy.
Here are some of the key areas of research and approaches in immunotherapy for prostate cancer:
T-cell engagers: T-cell engagers utilise proteins to redirect the patient’s own T cells to target specific proteins on prostate cancer cells. Trials using T cell redirected therapy are ongoing in prostate cancer.
CAR-T Cell Therapy: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) involves genetically engineering a patient's own T cells to target specific proteins on prostate cancer cells. Clinical Trials utilising CAR-T therapies are being developed for prostate cancer treatment.
Combination Therapies: Researchers were exploring combinations of immunotherapies with other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies to enhance the overall effectiveness of prostate cancer treatment.
Biomarker Research: Identifying biomarkers that can predict which patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy was an active area of research. This helps in selecting the right patients for treatment and improving the overall outcomes.