Abstract 3447: Radium-223 dichloride exhibits dual mode-of-action inhibiting both tumor and tumor-induced bone growth in two osteoblastic prostate cancer models
Authors: Suominen Mari I. , Fagerlund Katja M. , Rissanen Jukka P. , Konkol Yvonne , Morko Jukka , Peng Zhiqi , Alhoniemi Esa , Mumberg Dominik , Ziegelbauer Karl , Käkönen Sanna-Maria , Halleen Jussi M. , Vessella Robert L. , Scholz Arne 
Published: August 2015

Radium-223 dichloride (radium-223), an alpha particle-emitting calcium-mimetic, improves overall survival in prostate cancer patients with symptomatic bone metastases. Here, we define radium-223 mode-of-action and efficacy in two clinically relevant prostate cancer xenograft models demonstrating PSA expression and osteoblastic growth upon intratibial inoculation of cancer cells.

Immunocompromized male mice were inoculated with human LNCaP or patient-derived LuCaP 58 prostate cancer cells in the intratibial compartment and subsequently stratified into treatment groups based on lesion grade and/or serum PSA levels. Radium-223 (300 kBq/kg) or vehicle was administered intravenously, two times at 4-week intervals during the experiment. X-rays and serum samples were obtained biweekly and at sacrifice. Soft tissue tumors were examined macroscopically at sacrifice and tissue samples were collected and processed for γ-counter measurements, micro-CT, autoradiography and histology.

Radium-223 treatment inhibited tumor-induced osteoblastic bone growth as indicated by reduced bone volume and surface in LNCaP and LuCaP 58 prostate cancer mouse models. In addition, radium-223 treatment suppressed metabolic activity in bone as evidenced by decreased number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts relative to bone surface and reduced levels of the bone formation marker PINP. Radium-223 resulted in lower PSA values as early as two weeks after the first dose, indicating constrained tumor growth following treatment. This phenomenon was further supported by reduced total tissue and tumor area in tibia in LNCaP and LuCaP 58 models and increased percentage of necrotic tumor area in the LuCaP 58 model in radium-223-treated mice as compared to vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, DNA double-strand breaks were increased in cancer cells 24 hours post radium-223 treatment in the LuCaP 58 model providing further evidence of anti-tumor effects. Radium-223-treated mice exhibited less visceral metastases in the LuCaP 58 model (not significant). Based on autoradiography, radium-223 was deposited in the intratumoral bone matrix and in conjunction with osteoblasts in osteoblastic metastases.

We demonstrate that radium-223 dichloride is successfully incorporated into the intratumoral bone matrix and inhibits tumor growth in both cell line- and patient-derived osteoblastic prostate cancer metastasis models. Given the α-particle range of 50-80 μm, potent radiation effects on the tumor microenvironment are evident whereas relevant effects on the more distant bone marrow are not expected. Taken together, radium-223 therapy exhibits a dual mode-of-action that impacts tumor growth and tumor-induced bone reaction, both important players in the destructive vicious cycle of osteoblastic bone metastasis in prostate cancer.

Citation Format: Mari I. Suominen, Katja M. Fagerlund, Jukka P. Rissanen, Yvonne Konkol, Jukka Morko, Zhiqi Peng, Esa Alhoniemi, Dominik Mumberg, Karl Ziegelbauer, Sanna-Maria Käkönen, Jussi M. Halleen, Robert L. Vessella, Arne Scholz. Radium-223 dichloride exhibits dual mode-of-action inhibiting both tumor and tumor-induced bone growth in two osteoblastic prostate cancer models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3447. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3447