Dr. Crawford on Ongoing Research With Radium-223 in mCRPC

E. David Crawford, MD, professor of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, discusses ongoing research with radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

While the current indication for radium-223 is for patients with metastatic disease to receive it before or after chemotherapy. However, there are trials ongoing that are exploring the radiopharmaceutical in earlier settings of treatment, combining it with chemotherapy, and administering more than the standard 6 doses.

Crawford defines radium-223 as one of the "work horses" of the treatment landscape of mCRPC, and predicts that the utlization of it will evolve as more research is conducted. Benefits associated with radium-223 include decreased bone pain and delayed disease progression. Additionally, recent evidence suggests that the agent also delays spinal-related events.