Current and emerging trends in prostate cancer immunotherapy
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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
1Division of Urology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12054, USA.
Abstract:
There have been a number of recent developments in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer which seek to exploit the hormonal axis. Still, the castration-resistant prostate cancer remains a major challenge since this is the lethal and incurable phenotype which results in tens of thousands of deaths every year. There has been emerging interest in utilizing anticancer immunotherapy in prostate cancer, especially since the development of sipuleucel-T. Several other prostate cancer therapeutic vaccines including autologous and allogeneic vaccines, as well as viral vector-based vaccines, have demonstrated promising results in early trials. The checkpoint inhibitors which have shown some dramatic results in other cancers are now being studied in advanced prostate cancer setting. Studies are examining the therapeutic effects for both CTLA-4 inhibitors and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. It appears that definitions and measurements of response used in cytotoxic therapies may not be valid in determining response to immunotherapy. Early reports suggest that combination therapies, either concurrent or sequential, may be needed to achieve the desired response against advanced prostate cancer.
Insights
New immunotherapies show promise for advanced prostate cancer, offering hope against this lethal disease. Combination therapies may be key to effectively treating castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a lethal and incurable malignancy, causing significant mortality.
- Despite advances in hormonal therapies, CRPC remains a major clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging developments in immunotherapy for prostate cancer.
- To explore the potential of therapeutic vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors in advanced prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on prostate cancer immunotherapy, including therapeutic vaccines (sipuleucel-T, autologous, allogeneic, viral vector-based) and checkpoint inhibitors (CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1).
- Examination of the applicability of current response assessment metrics to immunotherapies.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors are under investigation for advanced prostate cancer.
- Existing response evaluation criteria for cytotoxic therapies may not be suitable for immunotherapies.
- Early findings suggest combination therapies might be necessary for optimal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Immunotherapy represents a promising frontier in advanced prostate cancer treatment.
- Further research is needed to establish optimal immunotherapy strategies, including combination approaches and novel response assessment methods.
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