Onkologie. 2014:8(1):6-10

Immunotherapy for prostate cancer

Jiřina Bartůňková¹, Radek Špíšek¹, Michal Podrazil¹, Rostislav Kuklík²

¹ Ústav imunologie UK 2. LF a FN v Motole, Praha

² SOTIO a.s., Praha

Prostate cancer is among the most common cancers in men. It is treatable in the early and localized stage; however, a proportion of

patients relapse or the diagnosis is made only in more advanced stages when the therapeutic options are limited. In addition to classic

hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, immunotherapy is another promising treatment modality in these stages. The

development of cancer disease is a multistage process of a comprehensive nature wherein the tumour cells themselves represent a

very heterogeneous population put into the context of a microenvironment of non-tumour cells and tissues, thus forming a complex

tumour "ecosystem". The immune system is capable of controlling tumour cell growth in the early stages of tumour development. With

advanced tumour growth, immune mechanisms become more or less paralysed and, in fact, not infrequently have a promoting effect

on tumour cell proliferation. In order to be successful, anticancer therapy must take into consideration all the comprehensive aspects

of interaction of the immune system and tumour cells, including the microenvironment. The article deals with the current options of

immunotherapy for prostate cancer with agents that have advanced into phase III clinical trials.

Keywords: prostate cancer, immune system, immune surveillance of tumours, immunotherapy

Published: March 1, 2014  Show citation