Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples
Published on: March 14, 2014
Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Nicholas J Venturini1, Charles G Drake1,2
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10032.
Abstract:
Immunotherapy with agents that block immune checkpoints is a mainstay of therapy for several common tumor types; so far, prostate cancer is not among those treated using this method. The observed lack of activity in prostate cancer is not due to a lack of testing; several agents have been evaluated both alone and in combination. Although several combination strategies show some promise, it appears likely that a greater understanding of the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment and baseline immune response will be required to optimize future treatment strategies.
Insights
Immune checkpoint inhibitors show limited success in prostate cancer treatment. Further research into the tumor microenvironment and immune response is needed for effective immunotherapy strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective cancer therapies for many tumor types.
- Prostate cancer has not yet benefited from this treatment modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in prostate cancer.
- To identify reasons for the lack of response and explore future therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors in prostate cancer.
- Analysis of combination strategies and their outcomes.
Main Results:
- Several immune checkpoint inhibitors have been tested in prostate cancer, both as monotherapy and in combination.
- While some combination strategies show potential, overall activity remains limited.
Conclusions:
- Prostate cancer's lack of response to current immunotherapy is not due to insufficient testing.
- Optimizing future treatment strategies requires a deeper understanding of the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment and its baseline immune status.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
Cancer
What is Cancer?
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...

