Dr. Tagawa on the Utility of Radium-223 in Prostate Cancer

Scott Tagawa, MD, MS, FACP, a professor of medicine and urology, and medical director of the Genitourinary Oncology Research Program at Weill Cornell Medical College, and an attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital, discuses the benefits of radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) in prostate cancer.

Treatment with radium-223 dichloride resulted in an overall survival (OS) benefit that was similar to what has been observed with other drugs, such as taxanes, androgen receptor–signaling and pathway inhibitors, Tagawa says. This is important to remember, as radium-223 dichloride is an underutilized drug, Tagawa notes.

Additionally, because the bone is a common site for prostate cancer, it is important to remember to use a bone-protective agent, unless contraindicated, according to Tagawa. Combination data with this agent are anticipated, Tagawa concludes.