THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

Reports and news items today cover potential inaccuracies in using undiagnosed “case control” series, initial clinical trials of a new prostate cancer “vaccine,” and reviews of prostate cancer vaccine development and the management of prostate cancer in the elderly.

Iguchi et al. have published data indicating the dangers of comparing data from series of known prostate cancer patients with supposedly cancer-free case control series of patients. Based on autopsy studies, the researchers demonstrate that undiagnosed, ”occult” prostate cancer may be present in 22 percent of men with a PSA level < 4 ng/ml,  15 percent of men with a negative prostate biopsy, or 12 percent of men who meet both criteria. This means that comparisons of proven cancer case series with undiagnosed and supposedly cancer-free patients in case series may actually have major inbuilt inaccuracies.

Mohebtash et al. have reviewed available data on the various different types of prostate cancer immunotherapeutic agents (“vaccines’) that are or have been in development over the past few years. They note the wide variety of approaches used to date in prostate cancer immunotherapy.

In a related news item, CureVac GmbH (a German company) has announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical study with a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccine currently known only as CV9103. The mRNA vaccine will be tested in patients with hormone-refractory, metastatic prostate cancer.

Finally today, in another review, Mohile et al. point out that although we have accumulated a great deal more information about the management of prostate cancer in older men, such patients have a high prevalence of other factors that can limit their remaining life expectancy, their quality of life, and their tolerance to treatment. The authors suggest that a comprehensive geriatric assessment often helps to identify health status issues that can predict morbidity or mortality in vulnerable or frail, older prostate cancer patients. They also suggest that more research is needed to establish optimal treatment strategies for all disease stages in prostate cancer patients diagnosed later in life.

Filed under: Drugs in development, Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment Tagged: | case control, CV9103, elderly, immunotherapy, vaccine