Genomics Informs Life-Saving Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial at BC Cancer – Vancouver

World Cancer Day is a time to recognize our collective power to change the future of cancer care and offer hope for better outcomes. BC Cancer Foundation is sharing stories that honour the strength of British Columbians facing cancer and the researchers driving innovative treatments, made possible by the generous support of our donors.  

Dante Di Pasquale had just retired and was looking forward to getting back to golf, woodworking, and travelling with his wife Carole, when he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2019.  

Unfortunately, it’s not unusual as one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and 90% of those diagnoses will occur in men over 60.   

What is uncommon, however, is that Dante has just wrapped another major milestone — 55 months on an immunotherapy clinical trial that in theory should not have worked to treat his disease. But, thanks to genomic testing that discovered he had a high mutation burden that does respond well to the treatment, he is now cancer-free. 

In addition to surgery to remove his prostate, Dante had undergone radiation and chemotherapy to treat his cancer which had unfortunately spread to the bone in his back. “It worked for a while,” he says, “but after a few months my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels would start to go up.” 

Genomic Testing: A New Era in Prostate Cancer Treatment

Dante’s oncologist Dr. Bernie Eigl, deputy head, department of clinical research at BC Cancer, referred him to a BC Cancer Foundation-funded study in precision medicine, IND.234 that uses liquid biopsy (a simple blood test) to screen for genomic markers in prostate cancer patients.  

After analysis, patients in the first of its kind study were assigned to one of five new therapies targeted at their unique form of prostate cancer. In Dante’s case it was immunotherapy, a treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.  

The trial required Dante to travel once a month from his home in Richmond to BC Cancer – Vancouver to receive an hour-long transfusion. “From the very first treatment,” he says, “my PSA was undetectable and scans every three months have been stable which basically means the cancer is gone.” 

“It’s a true success story,” says Dr. Eigl, “and one made possible, in part due to a donor-supported trial that enabled us to hone in on the unique characterizations of Dante’s cancer to recommend a personalized and effective treatment. While immunotherapy doesn’t work for most prostate cancers, Dante has experienced an exceptional and continuous response that has lasted for roughly the past four years — knowledge that we’ll be able to apply to the next patient that presents with similar disease.” 

Dante is thrilled at the outcome and says, “As far as the clinical trial, it’s good for me, and for anyone who has this type of prostate cancer — there’s a good chance immunotherapy will work for them.” 

Even better, compared to chemotherapy, Dante says immunotherapy, “was a non-event. I could basically just go on with my day. I think in most cases it’s a lot easier on the body. Chemo kills everything. Immunotherapy is very specific. It lets your body, your T cells do the work. It just helps them along, trains them or wakes them up. It’s a lot better than just knocking the hell out of everything.”  

At his worst, Dante had to use a cane to support himself but now he’s back to “if not 100%, pretty darn normal.” He even gotten back on his bike this past summer. “I’m a little slower, and not as fast,” but at 72 years old, he believes it’s more a result of aging — something he’s deeply grateful he gets to experience.