Provenge (sipuleucel-T) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed to treat a type of advanced prostate cancer in certain adults. Provenge comes as a liquid that’s typically given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.
Provenge is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer in adults. This is a type of cancer that has spread to other parts of your body, and it hasn’t responded to other treatments that lower the levels of testosterone in your body. Provenge can be used to treat prostate cancer that’s causing few or no symptoms.
Provenge is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called autologous cellular immunotherapies. Provenge isn’t available in a biosimilar version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Provenge, including its strength and how the medication is given. For a comprehensive look at Provenge, see this article.
Note: This article describes the typical dosage for Provenge provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Provenge dosage that’s right for you.
The information below describes Provenge’s typical dosage and other details about the drug.
Provenge form
Provenge comes as a liquid suspension that’s given as an IV infusion (the drug is slowly given directly into a vein). It’s always given by a healthcare professional.
Provenge strength
Provenge is made from your own immune cells. About 3 days before your infusion of Provenge, a sample of your white blood cells will be taken. The collected blood cells are then sent to the manufacturer, where they’re combined with a protein and used to create your personalized dose of Provenge.
Typical dosages
The following information describes the dosage that’s commonly used or recommended.Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for prostate cancer
Doctors may prescribe Provenge to treat metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer.
The recommended dose of Provenge is a total of 3 infusions, with 2 weeks between each infusion.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Long-term treatment
Provenge is used short term to treat prostate cancer. Treatment typically lasts about 6 weeks. You’ll receive a total of 3 infusions, each given 2 weeks apart.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long treatment with Provenge will last.
As part of your treatment, you’ll need to have your white blood cells collected about 3 days before your infusion. These cells are used to personalize your dose of Provenge. You’ll need to go to a cell collection center and have a procedure called leukapheresis. During leukapheresis, your blood passes through a machine that separates the white blood cells and then returns the rest of your blood to your body. This typically takes about 2–4 hours.
Talk with your doctor about what to expect during and after leukapheresis. During your leukapheresis appointment, you may experience side effects, such as chills, fatigue, dizziness, or tingling in the fingers or around the mouth during the procedure.
After your leukapheresis appointment, the collected cells are sent to the manufacturer who will make your customized dose of Provenge. It’s then mailed to your doctor’s office or infusion center, where you’ll receive the infusion. You’ll need to have your Provenge infusion 3–4 days after your leukapheresis appointment.
Each dose of Provenge will be given as an IV infusion by your doctor or another healthcare professional. You’ll likely go to your doctor’s office, infusion center, or a hospital to receive your infusion. The infusion takes about 1 hour.
Your doctor may give you medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), about 30 minutes before your infusion. This helps reduce the risk of infusion reactions. Your doctor will also monitor you for 30 minutes after the infusion to check for any side effects.
There are also videos on the manufacturer’s website about what to expect during cell collection and Provenge infusions.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Provenge in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss your appointment for a Provenge infusion, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. You’ll need to have another leukapheresis procedure and wait for another dose to be made for you because Provenge needs to be given right away after the manufacturer prepares it.
If you need help remembering your appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Provenge.
Is the dosage of Provenge similar to the dosage of Xtandi?
No, the forms and how often you take each drug are different.
Provenge comes as a liquid solution and is given as an IV infusion. The dose is 3 infusions, given 2 weeks apart. It must be given in a healthcare facility.
Xtandi comes as a capsule that you take by mouth. The dose is 4 capsules taken once per day.
To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Provenge to start working?
Provenge starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Provenge treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Provenge for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you have questions about the dosage of Provenge that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Provenge. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Provenge: For information about other aspects of Provenge, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison: To find out how Provenge compares with Xtandi or Zytiga, read this article.
- Details about prostate cancer: For details about prostate cancer, see our prostate cancer hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.