Sipuleucel-T
Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)
Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)High alert
An error with this medicine can cause serious harm: double checks and protocols are used.
A personalised cell vaccine for advanced prostate cancer: the patient's own immune cells are trained against prostatic acid phosphatase and infused back.
Quick facts
- Group
- Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)
- Target
- Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), an antigen of most prostate cancers
- Used for
- Metastatic hormone-refractory
- Key effects
- Chills · Fatigue · Nausea
- Monitor
- Vital signs during the infusion
- ATC
- L03AX17
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
Blood cells collected by leukapheresis are exposed in the laboratory to a recombinant fusion protein of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and GM-CSF. The antigen-presenting cells take up and process PAP; once infused, they are thought to direct a T-cell response against prostate cancer cells that express PAP.
- The patient's blood cells are collected by leukapheresis
- They are exposed to a PAP-GM-CSF fusion protein
- Loaded antigen-presenting cells are infused back
- T cells are primed against PAP on the tumour
Indications
- Metastatic hormone-refractory (castration-resistant) prostate cancer with few or no symptoms. Prostate cancer →
Adverse effects
Common
- Chills, fever, shaking
- Fatigue, weakness
- Nausea
- Headache, back and joint pain
- Dizziness or fainting related to leukapheresis
Contraindications
- Not for use in women
- Caution with a history of stroke, heart or lung disease
Key interactions
- Other medicines, vitamins and herbal products
- No specific interaction is listed; the full list is reviewed with the team before each collection and infusion.
What is monitored
- Vital signs during the infusion and for about 30 minutes afterwards
- Signs of infusion reaction
- Neurological symptoms after infusion
- Collection and infusion sites for redness or swelling
Administration and safety
- Each dose is made for one patient: identity is checked against the bag label before infusion.
- It must be infused within the short time window printed on the label.
- Premedication (such as paracetamol and an antihistamine) is given before the infusion to reduce reactions.
- Collection and infusion appointments are tightly linked: a missed date means the dose cannot be used.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Used only in men; pregnancy is not relevant to its use.
Nursing care
- Check vital signs before, during and after the infusion; slow or stop it and report if a reaction occurs.
- Ask about dizziness or tingling after leukapheresis.
- Teaching: report fever above the threshold given by the team, sudden weakness, speech changes or blood in the urine; keep every collection and infusion appointment.
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Intravenous infusion of the patient's own activated cells; a short course of infusions, each preceded by a cell collection.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Against which antigen does sipuleucel-T direct the immune response?
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP).
What protein are the patient's cells exposed to during manufacture?
A fusion protein of PAP and GM-CSF.
What is the main early adverse effect of sipuleucel-T?
Acute infusion reactions (chills, fever), reduced by premedication.
Connections
← Back to the class: Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Sipuleucel-T Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); Sipuleucel-T - NCI (National Cancer Institute, 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.