Provenge, First Ever Cancer Vaccine Approved by FDA
The FDA has approved the first cancer vaccine ever, one that would help prostate cancer patients live longer with less of the harsh and debilitating side effects of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. The vaccine, known as Provenge, developed by Dendreon Corporation of Seattle, WA., is ground-breaking research for cancer treatment, with speculation that its research can be applied to other forms of cancer.
The Provenge vaccine works to stimulate the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. In early clinical trials, men with advanced prostate cancer received modest benefit from the vaccine, with patients living about 4.5 months longer than projected, although some men benefited more, living up to 3 years longer after treatment. Side effects were few, with only mild, flu-like symptoms reported.
Further testing and research is expected to see whether Provenge could be used to treat prostate cancer in its earlier stages.
The Provenge vaccine is considered a treatment for existing cancer, not a preventative vaccine. In fact, it's not a vaccine as we know it at all. The treatment is technically called "cellular immunotherapy". Instead of a typical drug injection white blood cells from the patient are removed and treated with the drug, then introduced back into the patient's body. The treated cells act as a catalyst for an immune response, which attacks cancer cells, leaving healthy cells alone.