Capital Oncology’s Auburn center is among the first sites in the nation to treat advanced prostate cancer patients with Provenge, a new therapy.

Provenge was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer and is made by Dendreon Corp.

Provenge is an autologous (made from a patient’s own immune cells) cellular immunotherapy designed to stimulate a patient’s immune system to identify and target prostate cancer cells. Each dose is manufactured specifically for each patient using his immune cells.

Capital Oncology was founded in February 2007 in Olympia. The seven-physician practice opened its doors to patients in Olympia and Chehalis in May 2007.

In November 2007, Capital Oncology acquired the Auburn Center for Cancer Care. In April 2010, the center moved into a new state-of-the-art facility and became the Auburn Regional Cancer Center, offering medical oncology, radiation therapy, and PET/CT imaging.