Radium-223 in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

Abstract

In 2004, docetaxel was approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). For the next several years, there was a lull in drug approvals. However, from 2010 onwards, 5 additional therapies have been approved on the basis of showing a survival benefit in phase III studies. These agents include sipuleucel-T, cabazitaxel, abiraterone, enzalutamide and (most recently) radium-223. Amongst radiopharmaceuticals currently used for advanced prostate cancer (e.g. samarium-153 and strontium-89), radium-223 possesses several unique properties. As an alpha-emitting compound, the agent produces a high-energy output over a short range, facilitating selective destruction of tissue within the bone in the region of osteoblastic lesions while sparing surrounding normal tissue. The current review will outline biological rationale for radium-223 and also provide an overview of preclinical and clinical development of the agent. Rational sequencing of radium-223 and combinations, in the increasingly complex landscape of mCRPC will be discussed, along with factors influencing clinical implementation.

• Authors: Winston Vuong, Oliver Sartor, Sumanta K Pal
• Journal: Asian journal of andrology (Asian J Androl) 2014 May-Jun Vol. 16 Issue 3 Pg. 348-53 ISSN: 1745-7262 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 24713838 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• Radioisotopes
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• radium Ra 223 dichloride
• Radium

Topics

• Animals
• Bone Neoplasms (radiotherapy, secondary)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant (radiotherapy)
• Radioisotopes (therapeutic use)
• Radiopharmaceuticals (therapeutic use)
• Radium (therapeutic use)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays