Practical guide to the use of radium 223 dichloride

Bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals have been used for decades in the palliation of pain from bone metastases emerging from prostate cancer. Recent clinical evidence has demonstrated an improved survival in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with radium 223.

A review of the literature was performed to identify the role of radiopharmaceuticals in the management of prostate cancer. We focused on prospective trials in order to identify the highest level of evidence describing this therapy. Further, we focused on providing a clinical guide for the use of radium 223.

The phase III ALSYMPCA trial which compared radium 223 to placebo in men with symptomatic CRPC demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in median overall survival of 3.6 months and an improvement in time to first skeletal related event. There were higher rates of myelosuppression and diarrhea with radium 223, however, no clinically meaningful differences in the frequency of grade 3 or 4 adverse events were observed between the study groups.

Radium 223 is a safe and effective therapy in men with symptomatic CRPC providing a survival advantage on par with novel antiandrogens, CYP-17 inhibitors, and chemotherapy. Radium 223 has huge potential in combination strategies as well as for use earlier in the natural history of metastatic prostate cancer.