In Terms Of Health

The Dendreon Provenge prostate cancer treatment has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It is the first FDA approved anti-cancer vaccine of its kind. The drug was found to extend the life of cancer patients by a median of four months. The type of vaccine is in its infancy, and it would take a hefty sum of cash now to get it. However, it is becoming a success and a possible taste of better treatments to come.

Studies of Dendreon Provenge

WebMD reports that Dendreon Provenge treatments extended the lives of patients by a median of 4.1 months longer than placebo. Follow up studies indicated 32% of Provenge treated patients were living 3 years after treatment, compared with 23% treated with placebo.

Not just a simple ordinary shot

Provenge is a process, not just a shot. Immune cells get harvested, then shipped to Dendreon. The cells are treated with Provenge, and once ready, re-injected into the patient. It changes immune cell responses, specifically immune cells mistaking cancer for normal cells. So far, it is not expected to be cheap, at all. The treatment will run anywhere from $ 40,000 to $ 100,000.

Kind of a big deal

Dendreon Provenge will slow cancer, but not cure or prevent it. There isn’t a complete cure for all cancer, but this is a step in that direction. Some cervical cancers caused by the human papillomavirus can be prevented with a vaccine. This is a huge step towards further breakthroughs. Perhaps a cure will be found in the next generations.

Article Resources

WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20100429/fda-oks-provenge-prostate-cancer-therapy