Radium-223 in the therapeutic sequence of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Context: Radium-223 is an □ -particle transmitter with specific action on bone metastases. The Alpharadin in Symptomatic Prostate Cancer Patients (ALSYMPCA) study showed that radium-223 extended overall survival and delayed the onset of bone events in patients with symptomatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases (mCRPC) and without visceral metastases, with a good safety profile.

Objective: To review the new scientific evidence on radium-223 based on prespecified and post-hoc analyses of the ALSYMPCA study and on early-access programs after the publication of the ALSYMPCA study, thereby providing new data on the management of patients with mCRPC.

Acquisition of evidence: We searched for evidence on PubMed and in the abstracts of international urology and oncology congresses, as well as ongoing clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Synthesis of the evidence: The results of the reviewed studies offer promising results that will broaden the therapeutic benefits of radium-223 to patients with mild symptoms and those with no symptoms. The results also provide preliminary evidence on the benefit of radium-223 treatment after the failure of docetaxel, enzalutamide or abiraterone or the combination of radium-223 with these agents or other therapeutic agents such as bone-targeted agents and immunotherapy.

Conclusion: Radium-223 can be a treatment option for patients with mild symptoms and can provide a therapeutic benefit after failure of currently available treatments or in combination with these treatments. This evidence should be corroborated in clinical trials before being added to clinical practice.