Radium-223 dichloride is an alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical which significantly prolongs overall survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and symptomatic bone metastases. This was a retrospective analysis of the efficacy and safety of Radium-223 in the first 41 patients treated at a single center in Hungary. Radium-223 was given at a dose of 50 kBq/kg intravenously every 4 weeks for up to 6 cycles. Between 23rd July 2014 and 23rd February 2016, 41 patients were treated. Patient demographics, laboratory values, treatment outcomes and adverse events were collected from medical records. The mean age was 72.2 years (SD: 7.1). 24 patients received Radium-223 as first-line treatment (58%), 7 patients as second (17%), 3 as third (7.3%), 6 as (14.6%), and 1 as fifth-line therapy (2.4%). The mean number of cycles administered was 5.5 (SD: 1.1). The most common side effects were anemia (32% grade 1-3), nausea (28%, grade 1), diarrhea (4%, grade 2), thrombocytopenia (4%, grade 3). The mean baseline PSA level was 307.2 ng/ml (SD: 525.7), which increased to a mean value of 728.5 ng/ml (SD: 1277) by the end of treatment. The baseline mean ALP of 521.1 U/L (SD: 728) decreased to 245.1 U/L (SD: 283.5). The majority of patients experienced a decrease (37%) or complete cessation (43%) of bone pain intensity. In our symptomatic prostate cancer patient population, Radium-223 proved to be efficient in terms of pain relief, with moderate side effects. No PSA response was detected, while alkaline phosphatase levels significantly decreased.
Keywords: Bone pain; Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC); Radium-223.