Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy uses the body’s natural defenses (the immune system) to find, attack, and kill cancer cells. Some kinds of immunotherapy use your own immune cells, while others use medicines that are made in a lab.

These are the immunotherapy drugs that are used most often to treat prostate cancer. New treatments become available all the time, so this may not be a complete list. Other immunotherapy approaches not listed here may be available through clinical trials.

Please note: The side effects listed here do not represent a comprehensive list. Each immunotherapy drug has its own set of side effects and ways of working. It's important to discuss all potential side effects of a drug with your healthcare team. Be sure to tell your healthcare team about any side effects you do have. 

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All Available Treatments

IV (through a vein) =      Pill =

Treatment Type

Immune checkpoint inhibitor

Drug Names
(Dostarlimab) Jemperli® (IV)
(Niraparib/abiraterone acetate) AKEEGA® (IV)
(Pembroluzumab) Keytruda® (IV)
Potential Side Effects
Fatigue/weakness Flu-like symptoms Nausea/vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Joint pain/stiffness Muscle pain Skin/nail changes Breathing problems
Important Things to Know
  • These drugs are used for some advanced prostate cancers.
  • Some immune reactions can cause serious problems in the lungs, intestines, liver, 
    hormone-making glands, kidneys, or other organs. Talk to your doctor right away about any 
    new side effects.
  • Pembrolizumab and dostarlimab are drugs that target PD-1 biomarkers, an immune 
    checkpoint protein.
  • Checkpoint inhibitors are often taken with prednisone (steroid) to help manage side effects.
  • AKEEGA® is a combination inhibitor and hormone therapy.
  • Dostarlimab is a monoclonal antibody and checkpoint inhibitor, often used in prostate 
    cancer with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) biomarker. 

Treatment Type

Immunotherapy vaccine

Drug Name
(Sipuleucel‑T) Provenge® (IV)
Potential Side Effects
Flu-like symptoms Fatigue/weakness Joint pain/stiffness Muscle pain Nausea/vomiting Blood pressure changes
Important Things to Know
  • Sipuleucel‑T is made from your own immune cells and given as an IV infusion.
  • This treatment is used to treat advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to 
    hormone therapy.
  • Low blood counts may put you at risk for anemia, infection, or bleeding.
  • Stroke is rare, but your healthcare team will monitor for risk.
  • Clinical trials may offer other immunotherapy options for prostate cancer.