Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the prostate. In the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, after skin cancer.
Prostate cancer can be described in a number of ways, depending on where the cancer is and how the cancer has been treated. Prostate cancer can be localized (only in the prostate), or metastatic (spread to other areas of the body outside of the prostate).
When prostate cancer is diagnosed early, most men are treated with surgery or radiation. If the cancer returns, men are often treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The purpose of ADT is to shrink cancer or slow its growth.
The prostate is unique to men. It’s a walnut-shaped gland that sits beneath the bladder.
The prostate produces a fluid that contributes to semen.
Prostate cancer is described as advanced when it has progressed despite treatment to lower testosterone. Because the cancer no longer responds to treatment that results in very low levels of testoterone, it can also be described as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). When CRPC has spread to other parts of the body, it's described as metastatic CRPC (mCRPC). Metastatic prostate cancer can be found in the bone, lymph nodes, or soft tissues.
Advanced prostate cancer may require advanced treatment options.
Personalized immunotherapy
Activates immune cells to target and attack prostate cancer cells immediately, with effects that last over time.
Hormone therapy
Blocks or slows the production or action of male hormones (androgens), which may fuel prostate cancer progression.
Chemotherapy
A drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body.
Radiopharmaceuticals
Therapies that emit high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
PARP inhibitors
Prevent PARP from repairing single-strand breaks in DNA leading to premature death of cancer cells. (PARP stands for poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.)
To find a urologist or oncologist who can administer PROVENGE, enter your ZIP code below.
PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) is a prescription medicine used to treat certain men with advanced prostate cancer. PROVENGE is an established cellular immunotherapy and is customized to each individual by using his own immune cells.
Before receiving PROVENGE®, tell your doctor about any medical conditions, including heart or lung problems, or if you have had a stroke.
Tell your doctor about any medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, or dietary supplements.
The most common side effects of PROVENGE include chills, fatigue, fever, back pain, nausea, joint ache, and headache. These are not all the possible side effects of PROVENGE treatment.
PROVENGE is made from your own immune cells, which are collected during a process called leukapheresis. The cells are processed, returned, and then infused back into the patient through an IV (intravenous) infusion about 3 days later. This process is completed in 3 cycles, about 2 weeks apart. Each infusion takes approximately 1 hour and requires 30 minutes of post-infusion monitoring.
PROVENGE infusion can cause serious reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you:
• Have signs of a heart attack or lung problems, such as trouble breathing, chest pains, racing or irregular
heartbeats, high or low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, nausea, or vomiting
• Have signs of a stroke, such as numbness or weakness on one side of the body, decreased vision in one eye, or
difficulty speaking
• Develop symptoms of thrombosis which may include: pain and/or swelling of an arm or leg with warmth over the affected
area, discoloration of an arm or leg, shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens or deep breathing
• Have signs of infection such as a fever over 100°F, redness or pain at the infusion or collection sites
Tell your doctor about any side effect(s) that concerns you or does not go away. For more information, talk with your doctor.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Click here for full Prescribing Information.