Dr. Alter Discusses the Immunotherapy Provenge

Robert S. Alter, MD, co-chief, Urologic Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, describes the immunotherapy Provenge (sipuleucel-T) as a state-of-the-art breakthrough in the way prostate cancer patients are treated.

Vaccine therapies, such as Provenge, utilize the patient's immune system to fight tumor cells. In comparison to standard chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies Provenge has fewer toxicities and is better tolerated. The drug is a very short coursed therapy that does not subject patients to taking medications on a daily basis, which prevents many of the common toxicities that accompany daily doses of chemotherapy.

Alter describes Provenge as a durable therapy that effectively improves quality-of-life for patients.