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Published on: March 6, 2018
Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy-Finally in From the Cold?
Karie D Runcie1, Matthew C Dallos2
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, 6GN-435, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Despite significant progress, patients with metastatic prostate cancer continue to have poor prognosis. Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer care for many tumor types but has a limited role in the treatment of prostate cancer. This review discusses the promise of immunotherapy in prostate cancer treatment with an emphasis on emerging therapeutic targets.
Recent Findings:
Most prostate tumors have low tumor mutational burden and lack immunogenicity, representing significant hurdles to induction of anti-tumor immunity. However, recent research centered on deciphering key mechanisms of immune resistance in the prostate tumor microenvironment has led to the discovery of a range of new treatment targets. These discoveries are currently being translated into innovative immunotherapy clinical trials for patients with prostate cancer. Recent progress includes early evidence of activity for these novel approaches and the identification of potential predictive biomarkers of response. Novel treatment strategies using new antigen-directed therapies, drugs targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and combination immunotherapy therapies show great potential and are currently in clinical development. In addition, a deeper understanding of predictors of response and resistance to immunotherapy in prostate cancer is allowing for a more personalized approach to therapy.
Insights
Immunotherapy shows promise for metastatic prostate cancer, despite challenges like low tumor mutational burden. Emerging targets and personalized approaches are advancing treatment options for patients with this difficult-to-treat cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) has a poor prognosis despite advances.
- Immunotherapy is effective in many cancers but has limited success in prostate cancer.
- Understanding immune resistance in the prostate tumor microenvironment is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of immunotherapy in prostate cancer treatment.
- To highlight emerging therapeutic targets for prostate cancer immunotherapy.
- To discuss recent advancements and future directions in the field.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on prostate cancer immunotherapy.
- Analysis of emerging therapeutic targets and clinical trials.
- Exploration of mechanisms of immune resistance in prostate tumors.
Main Results:
- Prostate tumors often exhibit low mutational burden and lack immunogenicity, hindering anti-tumor immunity.
- New targets are being identified through research into the tumor microenvironment.
- Early clinical trials show promising activity for novel immunotherapy approaches.
- Potential predictive biomarkers for treatment response are being identified.
Conclusions:
- Novel immunotherapies targeting new antigens and the tumor microenvironment show significant potential.
- Combination immunotherapy strategies are under development.
- Understanding predictors of response and resistance enables personalized treatment approaches for prostate cancer patients.
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