Weiner adds that “testing for plasma cells in prostate cancer may help identify men who will benefit from immune-based treatments.”
The research team is now developing clinical trials to determine if higher levels of plasma cells in prostate cancer in men of all races/ancestry can boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy and improve survival.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, with about 175,000 new cases and 32,000 deaths each year.
The risk of death is about two times higher in Black men than in white men.
Immunotherapy is generally well tolerated, although it may have the following side effects:
- Diarrhea
- coughing or shortness of breath
- Skin rash
- An elevation of liver enzymes in the blood thyroid gland (causing generally low, but sometimes high, thyroid hormone levels)
Immunotherapy may not work for everyone so it is best to discuss your best options with your doctor.
