Ipilimumab MDX-010 for Prostate Cancer
We have discussed a few things about prostate cancer before. Recently, two patients at the Mayo clinic who had what was considered to be inoperable prostate cancer were cured when given a drug called ipilimumab, also known as MDX-010. The tumors in these patients were too large to operate on, and had grown into the abdominal region. The drug was used with a standard hormone treatment and radiation therapy. The tumors shrank dramatically, and surgery was subsequently possible.
Ipilmumab is an antibody, and when given after androgen ablation (which removes testosterone) it builds on the anti-tumor activity of the hormone. Both patients experienced consistent drops in their PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels.
Doctors are calling this the holy grail of prostate cancer research, and a tremendous amount of hope is being placed on the possibilities for the new treatment.