Medications that contain radioactive isotopes for the treatment of cancer
Xofigo®
What Is Xofigo®?
When prostate cancer has spread to your bones, your doctor may talk to you about a therapy that can target the cancer cells in the bone to possibly help slow the spread of the cancer and lessen symptoms. Xofigo® is a therapy that is used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones and that is resistant to other medical and surgical treatments that lower testosterone. This is known as castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Xofigo contains radium 223, which is a radioactive material. Xofigo goes to the bones, targeting rapidly growing cells such as bone metastases. The radiation from Xofigo targets and kills the cancer cells in your bones but does limited damage to surrounding, healthy cells.
How Is Xofigo Given?
Xofigo is administered through injection. You will receive a total of six injections - one every four weeks. The injection only takes a few minutes and you will be able leave the doctor's office after treatment and go on with your normal daily activities. Your doctor will continue to manage and monitor your health throughout treatment, and follow up appointments will be scheduled.
Many patients like the fact that even though Xofigo contains radioactive material, they can still have personal contact with others after treatments. You can continue to enjoy your usual social interactions and time spent with family and friends.
Benefits of Xofigo
In a clinical trial that studied Xofigo in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer, the men who received Xofigo:
- Lived 3.6 months longer than those who did not take Xofigo
- Had a median overall survival of 14.9 months versus 11.3 months in placebo-treated men.
Important information about Xofigo including clinical studies, side effects and safety information can be found HERE. Additional patient information is also available at www.xofigo-us.com/patient/.
PLUVICTO®
What Is PLUVICTO®?
PLUVICTO® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) treatment attaches a radioactive molecule to the cell membrane of the prostate cancer cell. It delivers the radiation to the site of cancer directly. It is currently indicated for patients with advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy. The cancer must be seen on a PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) PET scan. Additionally the patient must have been treated with other medications for their prostate cancer. In the future we hope to be able to provide this treatment earlier in the disease process.