title: Radium-223 for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
abstract: The vast majority of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) develop bone metastases. Bone metastases are a source of significant morbidity and affect quality of life in these patients. Several bone-targeting agents are approved for the treatment of bone metastases in prostate cancer, including bisphosphonates, denosumab, and radiopharmaceuticals. Radium-223 is a novel first-in-class alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical that has been approved for treatment of patients with mCRPC with bone metastases. Radium-223 delivers cytotoxic radiation to the sites of bone metastases and offers the advantage of minimal myelosuppression. The landmark Phase III ALSYMPCA trial demonstrated that, in addition to providing bone-related palliation, radium-223 can also prolong overall survival in patients with mCRPC with bone metastases in the absence of visceral metastases and in the absence of lymphadenopathy greater than 3 cm. Ongoing trials will further elucidate its use in sequence or combination with other available therapies for mCRPC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Amm
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanny B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Aragon-Ching
keywords: bone metastases; prostate cancer; radiopharmaceuticals; radium-223