There is a drug, actually an immunotherapy, hardly anyone knows about called Provenge. It was approved by the FDA after some controversy. It got a very strict label so insurers only pay for it in limited circumstances. The company could not sell enough, went bankrupt, it was sold to a multi-national who then sold it to a Chinese company.
But it’s still available. Everything I’ve read (which I admit is not complete) tells me that Provenge, and all immunotherapies, should be given as early as possible to be most effective. Not after you have late stage metastatic cancer.
There are a lot of PC drugs out there now, but if I had to make a decision today without doing any more homework - a decision I hope I never have to make - I’d opt for Provenge immediately after surgery. Then follow with other drugs. Even if I had to finance the cost out of pocket. So I’m interested to see what Matthews has to say about his treatments. Just put this out there for anyone who may find it it is worth the time to investigate.
A patient doesn’t need Provenge if surgery and maybe some follow up radiation does the job.
Provenge is somewhat falling out of favor with the oncologists at MD Anderson. Provenge is for advanced prostate cancer patients. The clinical trials indicated that it extended average survival by only four months. Part of this problem is that it doesn’t really lower PSA or testosterone
Lots of newer ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) drugs, such as Xytiga and Xtandi, can stop progression of metastatic prostate cancer for many years in some cases. I’ve been at it for just over five years now.
I am putting off immunotherapy until my PSA starts rising again, and it won’t be Provenge. There are a number of recent developments and clinical trials with quite a bit of promise with much better results than Provenge.
Jim Allison, PhD, heads up the immunotherapy platform at MD Anderson and the Moon Shot Program. Allison was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work on immunotherapy. He pretty much invented the field.