In Stage 4. Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Radium-223 Is More Successful Combined with Other Treatments

Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer in our country, generally affects older people and is sensitive to testosterone. It can be controlled with long-term testosterone suppression, but when it stops responding it is called hormone-resistant prostate cancer. For prostate cancer spread to bone (metastatic, stage 4.), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a leading authority on new drug approvals, approved Xofigo (Radium-223) in 2013. A new study published in the respected Lancet Oncology on 26 July showed that combining Radium-223 with other new-generation prostate cancer drugs, abiraterone (Zytiga) or enzalutamide (Xtandi), further improves treatment success and survival.

Radium-223 dichloride is an important radiopharmaceutical used in hormone-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases but no internal organ involvement. Radium-223 principally targets bone metastases. After intravenous administration, it attaches to sites where prostate cancer has spread to bone and combines with bone minerals. Emitting radioactive alpha particles into the tumor microenvironment, the nearby tissue, it fatally damages cancer cell DNA in bone, destroying these cells.

Regarding study details, 696 patients were observed after receiving at least 1 intravenous Radium 223 injection (50 kBq/kg). Injections were planned every 4 weeks for a total of 6. Overall, 403 patients received all 6 injections.

Study Results

Analysis found median survival of 16 months. Survival was longer in patients receiving Radium 223 with standard treatments.

Side effect assessment found treatment-related effects of different grades in 281 patients. The most common were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and leukopenia. Serious side effects occurred in 35 percent.

In conclusion, Radium-223 can be used safely and effectively with abiraterone or enzalutamide, now standard stage 4. prostate cancer treatments. Recent research also shows Radium-223 effective in pain management for hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients.