Dr. Sartor on the Science of Sipuleucel-T for Prostate Cancer

Oliver Sartor, MD, a medical oncologist at the Tulane University School of Medicine, discusses the science behind the results of a study investigating sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

There are 2 basic theses that could proposed for the results of this study, explains Sartor. The first is that the immune system is reacting more appropriately in African Americans—meaning the immune system in African Americans is more effective at slowing cancer growth.

The other hypothesis is the tumors present in African Americans might be more prone to being attacked by the immune system, states Sartor. These 2 hypotheses could be combined. It could be better immune systems and more responsive tumors, but none of this has been tested yet.