30 April 2010
The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on US Government decision to approve a new treatment for prostate cancer
The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on the US Government’s decision to approve a new immunotherapy treatment, Provenge, for men with advanced prostate cancer.
John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, explains: “Treating cancer by provoking a response from the body’s immune system has been a clear focus of research for many years and it is encouraging to see this principle being translated into new treatments for men.
“Whilst hormone therapy is the treatment of choice for men with advanced prostate cancer, we know that at some point, the disease becomes resistant to this treatment. At present, chemotherapy is often used at this point to control the cancer and research continues to try to find additional treatments.
“The news that this type of immunotherapy may offer additional survival benefit is promising. However, this method of treatment will provide multiple challenges. This complex process necessitates removing a patient’s immune cells from the blood and exposing them to a protein found in most prostate cancers, linked to an immune stimulating substance. The cells are then returned to the patient and the Provenge administered.
“There are still questions to answer, even if the treatment fulfils its early promise. At present, we believe there are currently no laboratories in Europe equipped to undertake this treatment. Furthermore, this treatment is not currently approved in the UK and it will still be some years before doctors know enough about its long term effectiveness and side effects to be confident about its potential place in the armoury against advanced prostate cancer. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE, may well also have to assess it if the treatment is to become available to men in the UK.
"We will monitor further developments closely."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For further information contact: Vivienne Francis, Nikki Nagler or Claire Blackburn on 0208 222 7136/7670/7687. Out of hours contact: 0798 432 5001. Email: Vivienne.Francis@prostate-cancer.org.uk or Nicola.Nagler@prostate-cancer.org.uk or Claire.Blackburn@prostate-cancer.org.uk
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Every year in the UK 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK.
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men.
The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning.
If you have any queries about prostate cancer, call The Prostate Cancer Charity's confidential Helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk