PROVENGE (sipuleucel-T) is approved for men with advanced, metastatic prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy.
Understanding PROVENGE Eligibility
PROVENGE is an autologous cellular immunotherapy, a type of treatment that uses a patient's own immune cells to fight cancer. Its approval is specific to a particular stage and characteristic of prostate cancer, making precise eligibility criteria crucial for its effective use.
Key Eligibility Criteria for PROVENGE
Eligibility for PROVENGE is defined by several important factors related to the patient's prostate cancer status. These criteria ensure that the treatment is administered to individuals for whom it has been proven beneficial.
The primary eligibility requirements are summarized in the table below:
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Gender | Exclusively approved for men. |
| Cancer Stage | Must have advanced, metastatic prostate cancer. Metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the body. |
| Treatment Response | The prostate cancer must be resistant to hormone therapy. This is also known as hormone-refractory or castration-resistant prostate cancer. |
Important Considerations
While these are the core criteria, the decision to prescribe PROVENGE is always made by a qualified healthcare professional. They will consider the patient's overall health, disease progression, and other individual factors to determine if PROVENGE is the most appropriate treatment option.
For more detailed information on PROVENGE and prostate cancer treatment, you can refer to reliable cancer resources such as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
