[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-cancer-immunotherapies/) › Sipuleucel-T

# 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.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-cancer-immunotherapies/)

**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.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Clinical What the labels mean

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## 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 →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/prostate-cancer/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Chills, fever, shaking
- Fatigue, weakness
- Nausea
- Headache, back and joint pain
- Dizziness or fainting related to leukapheresis

### Serious (rare, important)

- Acute infusion reactions: fever, chills, breathing difficulty, hypotension
- Stroke-like symptoms (speech difficulty, weakness or numbness of a limb)
- Infection at the collection or infusion site
- Blood in the urine

## 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.

## Memory aid

«SIP-uleucel = Sip your own cells»: the patient's own cells, Primed against PAP (Prostate).

## 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.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/sipuleucel-t/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## What the labels mean

**High alert**
An error with this medicine can cause serious harm: double checks and protocols are used.

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Enzalutamide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/enzalutamide/)
- [Abiraterone](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/abiraterone/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Prostate cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/prostate-cancer/)

[← Back to the class: Other cancer immunotherapies (cytokines, cell vaccines, oncolytic viruses)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-cancer-immunotherapies/)

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](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a611025.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [Sipuleucel-T - NCI](https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/sipuleucel-t) (National Cancer Institute, 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=L03AX17) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/sipuleucel-t/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/sipuleucel-t/