Emerging Immunotherapy Approaches for Treating Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy has emerged as an important approach for cancer treatment, but its clinical efficacy has been limited in prostate cancer compared to other malignancies. This review summarizes key immunotherapy strategies under evaluation for prostate cancer, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific T cell-engaging antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, therapeutic vaccines, and cytokines. For each modality, the rationale stemming from preclinical studies is discussed along with outcomes from completed clinical trials and strategies to improve clinical efficacy that are being tested in ongoing clinical trials. Imperative endeavors include biomarker discovery for patient selection, deciphering resistance mechanisms, refining cellular therapies such as CAR T cells, and early-stage intervention were reviewed. These ongoing efforts instill optimism that immunotherapy may eventually deliver significant clinical benefits and expand treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Implementing newer agents for the management of castrate-resistant prostate cancer: what is known and what is needed?

Men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy will in time develop metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Whilst effective treatment options for mCRPC have traditionally been limited, new agents are becoming available. Since 2010, the number and class of agents available to treat mCRPC has increased dramatically. As such, there is a need for clear guidance on the optimum treatment and sequence of treatments for mCRPC before and after chemotherapy. This evidence-based statement, reflecting the views of the authors, provides suggestions on the continued relevance of conventional approaches to first- and second-line treatment in mCRPC, the potential role of novel treatments, and factors that may influence the choice of hormonal agents and/or chemotherapy.