Using Radium-223 Plus Docetaxel in Patients With Bone Metastasis From CRPC

Michael J. Morris, MD, medical oncologist, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses an ongoing phase I/IIa study looking at radium-223 with docetaxel in patients with bone metastasis from castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Dr. Morris is an investigator in the trial.

There are two ways to treat patients with metastatic CRPC: by targeting the cancer cell itself and by targeting the host organ where most of the metastases reside (in the bone). This investigational treatment regimen does both: the chemotherapy targets the cancer while radium-223 targets the host organ.

Clinical Pearls

First, Morris says, there is a need for a safety-based study to establish the best combination of doses and schedules. Currently, researchers are moving to the expansion cohort in which all patients are randomized to receive both drugs or docetaxel alone in order to compare safety profiles. This trial is actively accruing and will be presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

• This investigational treatment regimen targets the cancer cells with chemotherapy and the host organ (bone) with radium-223
• Currently, patients are being randomized to receive both drugs or docetaxel alone to compare safety profiles of chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus radium-223
• This trial is accruing and will be presented at the 2013 ASCO meeting

Morris MJ, Hammers HJ, Sweeney C, et al. Safety of radium-223 dichloride (Ra-223) with docetaxel (D) in patients with bone metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC): A phase I Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium Study.J Clin Oncol