Timing of XGeva & Radium 223. - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Timing of XGeva & Radium 223.

Mcrpca profile image
21 Replies

My husband is due to start Radium 223 treatments at Stanford. His oncologist wants him to also start XGeva. The XGeva injections were postponed until after he had dental crown work done. He had an appointment for that on 2/6 which has been delayed because he tested + for Covid. His rescheduled appointment is for 2/21. Stanford wants to start the Radium 223 on 2/23. Does anyone have experience or information on the timing of XGeva & Radium? Can he do them at the same time? Will doing that increase the possibility of side effects? Would it be better to wait a week Ti start the Radium?

Sorry I seem desperate. Trying to coordinate all this stuff is really taxing.

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Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca
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Seasid profile image
Seasid

Some interesting information about Xofigo:

ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-r...

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toSeasid

Did you read and understand this information? I don't know anything about your situation, how many Mets do you have, what is your current ALP? PSA Etc.

Maybe you could share some information with us.

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

I did read it. Thanks. The bio has his complete history. At this point he has some bone mets with mild to moderate pain, no solid organ mets, PSA was 40 in November and 80 in January. He’s been on Triptorelin (TrelStar 11.25 q 12 weeks) since August. Testosterone is castrate level. We’ve been blessed with 17+ years of remission after prostatectomy with lymph node Mets and 9 months of Casodex & Lupron in 2002. This next treatment is something between a Hail Mary and palliative given his age (80) and his recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

What is his current ALP?

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

112 in August. He’ll have a new test tomorrow morning.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

It is in a normal range? Could you use SBRT of his Mets if it is feasible? Are they very painful? You could safe up Xofigo for later if he has less than 6 bone Mets. My concern is if the ALP is in a normal range would Xofigo work? Could you ask the referring doctor this question?

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

We’ve actually researched it pretty thoroughly and this is the best treatment option. I sort of had in my mind a different sequence that got interrupted by Covid🤷🏼‍♀️. The oncologist says the sequence won’t matter but we live 6 hours away from Stanford (the closest facility that administers Zofigo) so I’m trying to figure the potential side effects into the travel plans. I’m probably WAY overthinking it. 😂

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

How many visible bone Mets does he have on the psma pet scan?

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

An increased fracture risk was found particularly in patients with a medical history of osteoporosis and in patients with fewer than 6 bone metastases.

In another randomised, double blind, placebo controlled phase III trial (ALSYMPCA), a statistically significant overall survival benefit of treatment with Xofigo could not be demonstrated in the subgroups of patients with fewer than 6 metastases (HR for radium-223 to placebo 0.901; 95% CI [0.553 - 1.466], p=0.674) or a baseline total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 220 U/L (HR 0.823 95% CI 0.633-1.068, p=0.142), indicating that efficacy may be diminished in patients with a low level of osteoblastic activity from their bone metastases.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toSeasid

Xofigo is not recommended in patients with a low level of osteoblastic bone metastases and in patients with only asymptomatic bone metastases. It is also not recommended in combination with systemic cancer therapies other than LHRH analogues.In mildly symptomatic patients, the benefit of treatment should be carefully assessed against its risks, considering that high osteoblastic activity is likely to be required for treatment benefit (see below for more information).

Before starting and during treatment with Xofigo, an assessment of patients' bone status (e.g. by scintigraphy, bone mineral density measurement) and risk of fractures (e.g. osteoporosis, fewer than 6 bone metastases, medication increasing fracture risk, low body mass index) should be performed. Monitoring should continue for at least 24 months.

In patients with a high baseline risk of fracture, carefully consider the benefit of treatment against the risks.

Concurrent use of bisphosphonates or denosumab has been found to reduce the incidence of fractures in patients treated with Xofigo. Therefore such preventive measures should be considered before starting or resuming treatment with Xofigo.

The Agency's recommendations are based on the assessment of data from a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled phase III trial (ERA-223), which showed that there was an increased incidence of fractures (28.6% vs 11.4%), a possible reduction in median overall survival (30.7 months vs 33.3 months, HR 1.195, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.950 - 1.505, p=0.13) and an increased risk of radiological non-bone progression (HR 1.376 [95% CIs 0.972, 1.948], p=0.07) among patients receiving Xofigo in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone (n=401) compared to patients receiving placebo in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone/prednisolone (n=405). An increased fracture risk was found particularly in patients with a medical history of osteoporosis and in patients with fewer than 6 bone metastases.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

This is very important:

high osteoblastic activity is likely to be required for treatment benefit

GP24 profile image
GP24

He should also get a professional cleaning against paradontosis. This is even more important than the crown work if you get XGeva.

It will make no difference if you start with Xofigo and a few weeks later with XGeva.

carbide profile image
carbide

I am one of the 3-4% that got Adverst Reaction from Xgeva. I got osteonucrosis took 3 years to recover.Bet no bone density test was done.

You can start later, if there is no bone pain.

Most people have no negative reaction. How many people Xgeva really helps may be exaggerated by big Pharma.

But, I am the 3%.

Photo my left lower inside jaw.

Dead bone of lower left inside jaw. Under this sheaded bone was perfect new tissue.
Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply tocarbide

A sobering reminder. Thanks. So sorry you had to endure that.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

Do you have bone pain?

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

yes. Mild to moderate

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

And ALP 100. How many visible bone mats do you currently have?

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

5-6

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

Can you discuss that European paper with your oncologist. If ALP is only 100 you are in a normal range.

Maybe you don't have enough bone activity for the xofigo to be useful.

I personally would try no use SBRT on the painful mats if it is feasible. Can you have an appointment with an RO specialist in SBRT? Some machines are very accurate up to 1mm. I was lucky enough that I have one like that high precision MRI Linac in my neighbourhood.

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca in reply toSeasid

I appreciate your input but my husband is a doctor and I am a nurse practitioner. We have researched it very thoroughly and this is the best option. He’s been thoroughly scanned and evaluated. I was mostly interested in hearing from individuals who have had both XGeva and Zofigo about their experiences with side effects so I can make helpful travel plans. I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that his treatment plan was open for discussion.

Seasid profile image
Seasid in reply toMcrpca

Xofig mimics calcium and if the ALP is low, if there is no bone turnover if his cancer in his bones are not active there will be no benefit from Xofigo.

I am only an electrical engineer interested in biomedical engineering but I am not a doctor.

I still would like to rise my concern with Xofigo.

Otherwise I wish you good luck.

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