Targeted Therapy For Advanced Prostate Cancer with PROVENGE
Your PROVENGE journey
starts here
The PROVENGE treatment process can be completed in about a month.
The PROVENGE treatment process includes 3 personalized cycles using your own immune cells, activating them to empower your immune system. This process can be completed in 6 appointments over the course of about a month.
It is important to keep all of your scheduled appointments to avoid delaying your treatment.
Step 1:
Cell Collection
What to expect:
Prior to beginning treatment, a vein assessment will be conducted to determine whether an additional procedure is required to complete the cell collection process.
Treatment begins at your local blood center with leukapheresis, a 2 to 4 hour cell collection process in which your blood is passed through a machine that extracts a small amount of your immune cells, along with some platelets and red blood cells. The remainder of the blood is returned to your body.
Each dose of PROVENGE is custom made and manufactured specifically from your own cells in a state-of-the-art facility. Your specialized dose is delivered directly to your urologist’s or oncologist’s office.
You may experience chills, fatigue, or slight tingling in your hands and feet, while the cells are being collected.
How to prepare:
- Stay hydrated by drinking more water in the days leading up to your appointment
- Avoid caffeinated beverages on the day of your appointment
- Eat calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products and dark leafy greens, or take supplements
- Eat a hearty meal within 4 hours of your appointment
- Wear loose-fitting clothes, with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow
- Bring a current photo ID
- Consider arranging transportation to and from the procedure
Step 2:
PROVENGE Infusion
What to expect:
The infusion of PROVENGE will take place at your healthcare provider’s office or infusion center. Thirty minutes before the infusion time, your provider may decide to premedicate you with acetaminophen and an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine to minimize potential infusion reactions. The process takes about 1 hour, followed by 30 minutes of post-infusion monitoring.
How to prepare:
- Wear loose-fitting clothes, with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow
- Bring a current photo ID
INDICATION
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.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
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.
To report an adverse event, please email our Pharmacovigilance department at drugsafety@dendreon.com, or fax adverse event details to 833-464-0123. Please provide details pertaining to the adverse event and provide contact information so that our Pharmacovigilance team may contact you with any questions.
To report a product complaint, email our Quality department at CQAcomplaints@dendreon.com. Please provide details pertaining to the quality issue and provide contact information so that our Quality team may contact you with any questions.