OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2013. Cancer Centers of North Carolina, a practice in The US Oncology Network and a leading provider of comprehensive, state-of-the art cancer treatment in the Triangle area, is the first and only provider in the state of North Carolina to offer Xofigo, a ground-breaking treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts and Figures, 2013, approximately 238,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 29,700 will die from the disease in 2013.

Xofigo (Radium-223 dichloride) was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, but no other organs. It is intended for men whose cancer has spread after receiving medical or surgical therapy to lower testosterone.

"Xofigo is a very unique treatment in which the radioactive molecule, Radium-223, is given intravenously once a month for six months," says William R. Berry, MD, prostate cancer medical oncologist at Cancer Centers of North Carolina (CCNC). "The Radium molecule mimics calcium and is taken up preferentially into bone. The radioactivity of Xofigo is therefore able to treat prostate cancer metastatic deposits that have grown in the bones. This bone localizing ability is important because 90% of prostate cancer patients who have metastases, have metastases in bone, and 60% have metastases only in bone."

In the clinical trial that led to FDA approval, Xofigo was compared to a placebo infusion in patients with prostate cancer with bone pain secondary to metastatic disease and whose cancers were progressing despite depletion of serum testosterone (castrate resistant prostate cancer, or CRPC). The clinical trial showed that Xofigo had significant activity in reducing bone pain and showed that patients who received Xofigo had prolonged survival compared to patients who received the placebo.

"Xofigo is much better tolerated than prior radioactive pharmaceuticals used to treat painful bone metastases," says Dr. Berry. "The older agents, Samarium and Strontium, emit beta radioactivity (electrons), which can cause significant bone marrow toxicity, resulting in low red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts. Radium-223 emits alpha particles (a large particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons). Because of the large size of the alpha particles, the tissue penetration of the radioactivity of Radium-223 is much less than the radioactivity of the beta radiation emitters. The lesser tissue penetration results in a much reduced degree of bone marrow toxicity, and thus Radium-223 can be administered safely once per month."

Xofigo joins a list of multiple new treatments for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer that have been approved by the FDA in the last 10 years because Phase III clinical trials with these agents have shown survival benefit versus either placebo or another active therapy. These other treatments include Taxotere (docetaxel) in 2004, Provenge (sipuleucel-T) and Jevtana (cabazitaxel) in 2010, Zytiga (abirateron) in 2011, and Xtandi (enzalutamide) in 2012. All of these therapies are available for patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer at Cancer Centers of North Carolina.

About Cancer Centers of North Carolina
Established in 1979, Cancer Centers of North Carolina (CCNC) is the first practice to offer community-based outpatient cancer care in the Triangle with locations in Raleigh, North Raleigh, Cary, Dunn, and Clayton. The 19 specialized oncology physicians are experienced professionals offering state of the art compassionate cancer care, meeting the needs of cancer patients and their families throughout the spectrum of illness, recovery and survivorship. They offer medical oncology; radiation oncology; gynecologic oncology and surgery; head and neck oncologic surgery; access to new, biologic and targeted treatments; advanced radiation therapy techniques including IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) and HDR (high-dose rate radiotherapy); and access to the newest cancer medications through participation in nationally associated clinical trials. For more information, visit www.CancerCentersofNC.com.

Cancer Centers of North Carolina is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation's largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network, CCNC is united with nearly 1,000 physicians nationwide. Cancer Centers of North Carolina participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in the development of 46 FDA approved cancer therapies. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.