Among the latest potential prostate cancer treatments and
vaccines is Prostvac, a vaccine about to enter Phase 3 trials in the
United Kingdom, representing the first prostate cancer vaccine to ever
reach this stage in Europe. Prostvac is currently in trials in the
United States and will be entering trials in 18 other countries along
with the UK.
Prostvac, which was developed by Bavarian-Nordic Immunotherapeutics
for men with advanced prostate cancer that has resisted hormone therapy,
is a combination of the virus used in a smallpox vaccine and a strain
of a virus (fowlpox) that causes diseases in poultry. Four human genes
were then added to the DNA of these viruses.
Prostvac is considered to be a vaccine because it reportedly works by
using these viruses to transport the human DNA to direct the immune
system to fight cancer cells. In the Phase 3 trial in the UK,
researchers will enroll about 30 patients to see how Prostvac meets this
challenge.
During the trial, the patients will be given a series of seven
injections over a five-month period. According to Dr. Reiner Laus,
president of the vaccine’s manufacturer, Prostvac has milder side
effects than other treatments for prostate cancer, and the vaccine will
hopefully be licensed by 2015.
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