Fishman M. A changing world for DCvax: a PSMA loaded autologous dendritic cell vaccine for prostate cancer.
Expert Opin Biol Ther 2010;
9:1565-75. [PMID:
19916735 DOI:
10.1517/14712590903446921]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Northwest Therapeutics' DCvax-prostate consists of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) peptides, administered intravenously. Phase I-II testing, a decade ago, showed clinical benefit and immunological response in some patients. More recently DCvax brain, a product using a similar DC platform showed encouraging Phase I-II results and sipleucel-T, a prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP)-directed DC immunotherapy had positive Phase III results.
OBJECTIVE
Features of the clinical setting into which a new immunotherapy could be introduced are discussed, to refine a perspective on DCvax-prostate in the context of evolving prostate cancer therapeutics. PSMA-directed therapeutics and immune anticancer technologies are reviewed, and the clinical and immunological correlative testing of DCvax-prostate is discussed.
METHODS
Clinical and preclinical data from peer-reviewed literature, meetings proceedings and manufacturer-provided information are considered.
CONCLUSION
DCvax-prostate had encouraging early-phase trial results, but development and testing had stalled. As a more detailed understanding of patient-selection for capacity for anticancer immune response, the quantitation of immunological correlates, and the changing marketplace develop, it is appealing to consider a well tolerated, PSMA-directed autologous dendritic cell therapeutic product. Further clinical trial development of DCvax-prostate is warranted, and required if it is to find a relevant clinical application.
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