2010: A Big Payoff! Three New Cancer Drugs

Three new drug treatments for advanced prostate cancer – each with significant contributions from PCF-funded researchers – are approved by the FDA: Provenge (April), Jevtana (June) and Xgeva (November).

Provenge is a first-of-its kind immunotherapy that stimulates a patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Jevtana is a novel chemotherapy agent for men whose metastatic disease becomes resistant to both hormone therapy and conventional chemotherapy. And Xgeva works to prevent weakening of bone and bone fractures in men who are undergoing hormone therapy.

These and other developments make 2010 the greatest year in the history of prostate cancer research, with more progress being made over 12 months than in the preceding decade. Researchers also identify 24 genomic subtypes of prostate cancer, and 28 new prostate cancer drugs enter Phase I or II clinical trials.