PURPOSE OF REVIEW:Randomized clinical trials of palliative radiation therapy and radiopharmaceuticals are emphasized, and new concepts in targeted alpha-emitter therapy are introduced.
RECENT FINDINGS: Radiation therapy has a proven palliative role in the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Findings from 223radium clinical trials emphasize the importance of alpha particles as a new therapeutic modality in patients with bone metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. We introduce the concept of alpha-emitting particles from both a basic and clinical perspective in the realm of bone-targeted radiopharmaceuticals and discuss how these agents compare and contrast with conventional beta-emitting radioisotopes. The physics, radiobiology, and survival data with 223radium are unique compared with previously used radiopharmaceuticals.
SUMMARY: Targeted alpha-emitting therapies such as 223radium have the capacity to change the way we treat patients with bone-metastatic prostate cancer.
Written by:
Lewis B, Sartor O. Are you the author?
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Reference: Curr Opin Urol. 2012 May;22(3):183-9.
doi: 10.1097/MOU.0b013e32835259d2
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22453334
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section