New immunotherapy targets prostate cancer
A study at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is now investigating whether a new type of immunotherapy can help with recurrent prostate cancer / Combination of immunotherapy, surgery and radiation is considered particularly promising
One in four cancer diagnoses in Germany is prostate cancer. Men in whom the cancer recurs despite surgical removal of the prostate could be helped by a new immunotherapy in combination with precise radiotherapy. Based on initial promising results, the Department - University of Urology at the Medical Center of Freiburg is conducting a study on this. In immunotherapy, the patient's immune system is specifically activated so that it better recognizes and destroys the cancer cells. Whether immunotherapy improves the effect of radiotherapy is also being investigated. The planned study will be presented at the US American Cancer Congress ASCO-GU next week. Subjects are currently being enrolled in the study.
"We initiated this study because we expect it to bring significant improvements for prostate cancer patients. We hope to be able to establish this form of immunotherapy for prostate cancer in the near future," says study leader Prof. Dr. Christian Gratzke, Medical Director of the Department of Urology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The Department of Urology is part of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, which is certified as an Oncological Center of Excellence by the German Cancer Aid.
The antibodies guide the immune cells to the cancer
In addition to complex surgical approaches, personalized medicine is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of patients with tumours of the urogenital tract at specialized centers. The urologists work together with experts from other disciplines to tailor the therapy to the molecular tumor characteristics in a very complex and precise manner. Immunotherapies are also part of this new type of treatment.
"Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer therapy in recent years and is now an important therapeutic option for urinary bladder carcinoma or renal cell carcinoma, for example," says Gratzke. The drug now being used in the study contains an antibody that helps the immune cells to recognize and fight the harmful cancer cells. The researchers are also investigating whether the attacked tumor reacts more sensitively to radiotherapy.
The combination of immunotherapy with radiotherapy has been described for various diseases. 49 prostate cancer patients in whom the cancer returned after total removal of the prostate will now be treated in the study and closely monitored by experts at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. They will receive the immunotherapy for six to eight weeks, which can be administered for up to a year if well tolerated.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Christian Gratzke
Medical Director
Department of Urology
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-28910
christian.gratzke@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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