- Proton Therapy
- CyberKnife
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
- RapidArc
- TrueBeam
- Partial Breast Irradiation
- High Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Gynecological Cancer
- High Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
- Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
- Tomotherapy
- Selective Internal Radiation Therapy
- Integrative Oncology
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy
- Linac Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy
- Radio Isotope Injections
- Intraoperative Breast Radiation Therapy
- Xofigo
Xofigo
Overview
The physicians of ROC are pleased to offer Radium 223 (Xofigo, Bayer Health Care) as a treatment for patients with metastatic hormone resistant prostate cancer. On 5/15/2013, Radium 223 was approved for treatment of patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer for symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral disease. Approval was based on a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial called the ALSYMPCA (Alpharadin in Symptomatic Prostate Cancer) Trial (1). Patients had painful castrate-resistant prostate cancer and no visceral disease. All patients had prior treatment with docetaxel or deemed unable to tolerate docetaxel treatment. 921 patients were entered into the study and a 2:1 radomization was used. Patients were given an injection of Radium 223 every four weeks for six cycles plus best standard of care (n=614) or placebo plus best standard of care(n=307). Standard of care included local radiotherapy, corticosteroids, anti-androgens, estrogens, estramustine or ketoconazole. All patients continued anti-androgen therapy.
At a prespecified interim analysis, median overall survival, which was the primary endpoint of this trial, was significantly prolonged with this drug in the Radium 223 group (14.9 vs. 11.3 months, p<0.001). This improvement in overall survival is supported by a delay in time to the first symptomatic skeletal event. A skeletal event was defined as the need for external beam radiation therapy to relieve skeletal pain, new pathologic fracture, new spinal cord compression, or tumor-related orthopedic surgical intervention. Other secondary events that were improved are represented in the table below compared to placebo:
Secondary Endpoint | Result with Radium 223 versus placebo |
Time to first skeletal event | 15.6 months vs 9.8 months p<0.001 |
Time to PSA progression | P<0.001 |
Total Alkaline Phosphatase Response | 43% vs 3% p<0.001 |
Time to increase in Alkaline Phosphatase | Median 7.4 months vs 3.8 months |
Total Alkaline Phosphatase normalization | 34% versus 1% p<0.001 |
Fewer adverse events were reported in patients who received Radium 223 than in the placebo group. Quality of life scores improved in Radium 223 group (25%) compared to the placebo group (16%, p=0.02). Thrombocyoptenia (12%vs 6%), neutropenia (5% vs 1%), and diarrhea (25% vs 15%) were the major side effects that occurred greater in the Radium 223 group versus the placebo group. Thus, Radium 223 use in patients with bone only castrate resistant prosate cancer, improves overall survival, quality of life, and biochemical disease markers without increase in adverse events.
MECHANISM OF ACTION: The active component of radium-223 is the alpha particle Radium-223 dichloride. This compound mimics calcium and forms complexes at areas of increased bone turnover. The alpha particles lead to a high frequency of double-strand DNA breaks in adjacent cells. The range of the alpha particles is 100 micrometers which is less than 10 cell diameters. This limits damage to surrounding normal tissue including the adjacent bone marrow.
DELIVERY: The patient is given a dose of Radium 223 intravenously at four week intervals for six 1 minute injections. The volume of drug given is calculated based on the patient’s weight and the radioactivity concentration of the product.
DISTRIBUTION: The majority of the Radium-223 is delivered to the bone within 4 hours of injection. The major route of excretion is through the bowels with only a very small amount excreted through the bladder and therefore the most common side effects seen were GI including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Also seen were peripheral edema and changes in blood counts.
If you are interested in learning more about this drug or if you would like to have your patients receive consultation regarding treatment with Radium 223, please contact one of our physicians. www.chicagocancer.org
INDICATION |
During treatment 83% of patients in the Radium 223 group and 82% of the placebo group received gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. Also, 21% of the Radium 223 group and 34% of the placebo group received antiandrogens. Use of systemic steroids (41%) and bisphosphonates (40%) was also balanced between the groups.
Patients with prior bone fractures or impending fractures received orthopedic stabilization prior to starting treatment with Radium 223. |
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Patients with Hormone Resistant Prostate Cancer and Symptomatic Metastatic Bony Disease – Overall Suvival Benefit 15 vs 11 months | ||
DETAILS OF PATIENT ENROLLMENT |
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Median Age | 71 years old | |
Performance Status | ECOG 0 or 1 | |
Received Prior Docetaxel | 58% | |
Received Prior Bisphosphonates | 41% | |
Six or more Bone Scan Lesions | 85% | |
Used Narcotic Analgesics | 54% | |
Used Non-Narcotic Analgesics | 44% | |
EXCLUSION |
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Chrons’ Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Prior Hemibody Radiation Therapy, or Untreated imminent spinal cord compression |
1) Parker C, et al., (2013) Alpha emitter Radium-223 and survival in metastatic prostate cancer. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:213-223.
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