Xofigo^® is used to treat prostate cancer that is resistant to other medical and surgical treatments that lower testosterone. The medical term for this condition is castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Xofigo can be used to treat castration-resistant prostate cancer to help slow the spread of your cancer.

Xofigo^® is FDA approved. It is an injection that contains the radiactive material radium 223. Radium and calcium have similar chemical properties, since it goes to areas in your bones that are growing quickly (just as calcium does). When you have prostate cancer that has metastasized (or spread) to your bones, this causes your bones to grow and Xofigo^® to go to that area. The radiation from Xofigo^® is a strong treatment, but only travels short distances. This means the radiation is deadly to the cancer cells, but the damage to nearby healthy cells is limited.

Over the course of your therapy, you will get a total of 6 intravenous injections of Xofigo^® – one injection every 4 weeks. The injection will be given over 1 minute. After treatment, you will be able to leave our office and go about your daily activities. You don’t have to be concerned about radioactivity around your loved ones. There are no restrictions regarding contact with other people following your treatments. Radioactivity is primarily eliminated when you go to the bathroom.

Xofigo^® has been studied in clinical trials with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. In addition to the other medication they were taking, some of the men in the study were given Xofigo^®. Others were given an injection that did not contain an active drug. The men who received Xofigo^® lived significantly longer (median Xofigo^® treated patient had overall survival of 14.9 months versus 11.3 months in placebo treated patients).

Xofigo^® can be absorbed by organs other than the bone, primarily the bone marrow and digestive system. So, there are potential side effects that should be discussed with the radiation therapists at Image Guided Radiation Therapy. Most health insurance plans cover Xofigo^® injections, including Medicare. Xofigo^® Access Service can help determine if your insurance plan covers this treatment.

Call Image Guided Radiation Therapy to discuss if this option is a viable one for you. We are here to help support you and the people who care for you, and are happy to consult with you regarding your options.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. This year alone, it is estimated that more than 230,000 men will be diagnosed with the cancer and nearly 29,500 men will die from the disease in the United States.¹ If prostate cancer starts to spread to other areas of the body (metastasize), it most commonly goes to the bones.² Once the cancer has reached the bone, interactions between tumors cells and the bone cells responsible for breaking down and rebuilding bone result in excessive bone rebuilding and rapid tumor growth.³ Ninety percent of all men with CRPC have radiological evidence of bone metastases⁴, which are shown to be one of the main causes of death in patients with CRPC.⁵

1. American Cancer Society. How many men get prostate cancer? Available at: cancer.org. Accessed April 28, 2014.
2. Goh et al. New Multidisciplinary Prostate Bone Metastates Clinic: First of Its Kind in Canada. Current Oncology. Volume 14, Number 1.
3. Jin, Dayyani, and Gallick. Steps in Prostate Cancer Progression that Lead to Bone Metastasis. International Journal of Cancer. 2011
4. Saad, MD, et. al. “Guidelines for the management of castration-resistant prostate cancer.” Can Urol Assoc J 2010;4(6):380-4.
5. Lange PH, Vasella RL. “Mechanisms, hypotheses and questions regarding prostate cancer metastatic to bone.” Cancer & Metastasis Reviews.1999;17:331-336