Prostate cancer immunotherapy
Tumor-specific immunotherapy targets prostate cancer cells — independently or as an adjunct to other treatment methods.
Active immunotherapy for prostate cancer
The primary treatment for metastatic prostate cancer is hormone therapy. However, over time, all patients stop responding to it: a hormone-refractory state develops on average 12–18 months after starting therapy.
Treatment of hormone-refractory cancer is mainly palliative and does not substantially affect life expectancy. Tumour-specific immunotherapy can be considered both as a standalone treatment and as an addition to other methods.
In our practice a clinical effect of xenovaccine therapy lasting at least 6 months has been seen in most patients with stage IV disease. These are preliminary results: the group was small and the disease far advanced in all of them.
Prostate cancer has a feature that makes it convenient for immune approaches: it usually grows slowly. An immune response needs time — weeks and months — and where an aggressive tumour runs ahead, a slow one gives that time a chance. The same feature explains why judging the result from a single test a month later is pointless: the reference point is the PSA trend over several measurements.
The second practical point is bone. Prostate cancer spreads to the skeleton more often than anywhere else, and with bone metastases treatment usually adds bone-protective drugs and pain control. Immunotherapy does not solve those tasks and does not replace them: it works alongside, while pain and fracture risk remain with your treating urologist or oncologist.
What immunotherapy actually does in prostate cancer
Prostate cells carry proteins that are almost absent from other tissue. That is how the immune response locates the tumour.
Tissue-specific targets
Prostate-specific proteins are produced almost exclusively by prostate cells. An immune response directed against them strikes precisely: outside the gland and its metastases there are almost no such targets.
Prostate-specific proteins are produced almost exclusively by prostate cells. An immune response directed against them strikes precisely: outside the gland and its metastases there are almost no such targets.
Preparing the product
Immune cells are isolated from the patient's blood, activated outside the body and given tumour specificity. The product is prepared individually.
Immune cells are isolated from the patient's blood, activated outside the body and given tumour specificity. The product is prepared individually.
Administration and reaction
The procedure is outpatient. The reaction in the first 24 hours — slight temperature, weakness, local redness — is expected and resolves on its own.
The procedure is outpatient. The reaction in the first 24 hours — slight temperature, weakness, local redness — is expected and resolves on its own.
How progress is judged
The main reference point is PSA dynamics across several consecutive measurements, plus bone scan or CT as prescribed. What matters is not a single result but the rate of rise: a slowdown is a meaningful sign even if the absolute value remains high.
The main reference point is PSA dynamics across several consecutive measurements, plus bone scan or CT as prescribed. What matters is not a single result but the rate of rise: a slowdown is a meaningful sign even if the absolute value remains high.
Who the method suits and how the course is arranged
What to establish before planning a course: the stage, the response to hormone therapy, the condition of the bones.
When we discuss the method
Hormone-refractory disease, which develops on average 12–18 months after hormone therapy begins; biochemical recurrence after radical treatment; metastatic disease where standard options are limited.
When it is not needed
Localised low-risk cancer on active surveillance, and the period after radical treatment with a stably low PSA. Monitoring is enough here, and additional treatment does not improve the outlook.
Contraindications
Acute infections, including flare-ups of prostatitis and urinary tract infection, decompensation of severe concomitant disease, conditions with deliberate immunosuppression. Marked urinary obstruction needs a urological solution first.
Hormone therapy continues
Androgen deprivation therapy continues as prescribed by your urologist or oncologist. Immunotherapy works alongside it, and stopping hormone treatment on your own is not acceptable.
How long it takes
Treatment is outpatient. The induction stage runs over several months; since the result is judged by the PSA trend, a meaningful assessment is not possible until several measurements have accumulated.
Cost
The immunorehabilitation course for tumour diseases costs from 285 000 ₽ and can be paid in stages. A consultation with the professor costs 10 000 ₽, with the oncologist 7 000 ₽.
When immunotherapy is applicable
When the tumor stops responding to hormone therapy, immunotherapy provides an additional mechanism for attacking tumor cells.
Tumor-specific immunotherapy can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other methods.
The method does not carry the severe side effects characteristic of other types of antitumor treatment.
Questions about prostate cancer treatment
Is the method used in hormone-refractory prostate cancer?
Yes. Tumour-specific immunotherapy is used on its own or as an addition to other methods, including in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Is the method suitable for long-term disease control?
Prostate cancer often progresses slowly, which makes immunotherapy appropriate for long-term control: the method builds a specific immune response against tumour cells.
How well is treatment tolerated?
The effect is achieved without an aggressive impact on the body, which helps preserve activity and wellbeing.
Can I travel for treatment from another region?
Yes. The centre is next to Moscow (Khimki, Skhodnya) and accepts patients from other regions; the first consultation can be done remotely from your documents.
What should I send before the consultation?
The histology report with the Gleason score, PSA dynamics over the whole follow-up period, bone scan or PET results, summaries of the treatment given and your current prescriptions.
How soon can I tell whether it is working?
Not from a single test. You need a PSA trend over several consecutive measurements plus imaging. A slowdown in the rate of rise counts as a meaningful result even without a fall in the absolute value.
How much does it cost and can I pay in instalments?
The course costs from 285 000 ₽ and can be paid in stages. The centre issues the contract, receipts and a certificate of payment for medical services for a tax deduction.
Where to go next
Other conditions in this area
Cost of the course
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