title: Radium-223 dichloride: a review of its use in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases.
abstract: Radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo®; formerly Alpharadin™) [hereafter referred to as radium-223] is a first-in-class alpha particle-emitting radiopharmaceutical that has recently been approved for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastatic disease. Radium-223 is a calcium mimetic, which targets bone, delivering cytotoxic radiation to the sites of bone metastases. In the recently reported Alpharadin™ in Symptomatic Prostate Cancer (ALSYMPCA) phase III study, radium-223 was associated with significantly improved overall survival compared with placebo, making it the first bone-targeted CRPC therapy for which an overall survival benefit has been demonstrated. The ALSYMPCA study also demonstrated the beneficial effects of radium-223 on disease-related symptomatic skeletal events, pain and health-related quality of life. Radium-223 was generally well tolerated, being associated with low rates of myelosuppression and generally mild gastrointestinal adverse events. Thus, radium-223 is a valuable addition to the treatment options for this poor-prognosis population.
authors.affiliation: Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, 0754, Auckland, New Zealand, demail@springer.com.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirley
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCormack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D064129:Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011883:Radium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011868:Radioisotopes; C581106:radium Ra 223 dichloride; D011883:Radium