Steven E. Finkelstein, MD, National Director of Translational Research, 21st Century Oncology, discusses the safety profile of radium-223 (Xofigo) to treat patients with bone metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Finkelstein says the most common adverse reactions the patients experienced after receiving radium-223 were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and peripheral edema. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were reported in 57% of radium-223-treated patients while 63% of placebo-treated patients reported such reactions, Finkelstein says, proving that radium-223 is a tolerable agent.

Anemia, lymphocytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia were the most common hematologic laboratory abnormalities in radium-223-treated patients, Finkelstein says.

As radium-223 is a radionucleotide, Finkelstein says, radiation oncologists and nuclear medicine physicians both possess appropriate training to use the agent.

Finkelstein says that radium-223 was created in a specific way to become a practical option for community oncologists.

As the ALSYMPCA trial demonstrated a tolerable toxicity profile for radium-223, Finkelstein says, patients will be able to receive chemotherapy if radium-223 is ineffective.