PLEASANT HILL, Calif., Jan. 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For men suffering from advanced stage prostate cancer, a new drug is showing promise to extend survival time, improve quality of life and ease pain from cancer that has metastasized to the bones.
Approved by the FDA last spring, Xofigo is intended for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), an advanced form of prostate cancer, which has become resistant to medical or surgical treatments that lower testosterone. Pacific Urology and partnering clinic Diablo Valley Oncology (DVO) are among the first practices in the East San Francisco Bay Area to offer Xofigo to their patients.
Xofigo is an injectable radioactive drug that chemically mimics calcium and binds to minerals in bone to deliver radiation directly to bone tumors, thereby limiting damage to surrounding tissues.
"Xofigo is showing great promise for advanced prostate cancer patients," says Dr. Brian Hopkins of Pacific Urology, who championed efforts to bring the drug to his Bay Area practice. "This development broadens our approach to treating such a potentially devastating cancer."
In July 2013, The New England Journal of Medicine published results of a study showing Xofigo improved survival rates in men with advanced prostate cancer.
"This drug has tolerable side effects and has the potential to ease pain, slow the weakening of affected bones and possibly also prolong their lives," says Dr. Sachin Kamath, a DVO radiation oncologist. "It is an important drug — similar to other effective types of radiation treatment, but in an injectable form."
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and the second most common cause of cancer death in men.
About Pacific Urology
With clinics in Concord, Walnut Creek, Antioch, Brentwood, San Ramon, and Livermore, Pacific Urology is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest urology practices. Pacific Urology restores urologic health for men, women and children, and treats numerous health issues including prostate cancer and treatment, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, kidney stones, bladder and kidney cancer, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, infertility and more. www.PacificUrology.com
About Diablo Valley Oncology
Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group and their imaging center, California Care Imaging Center are located at the state-of the art California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, CA. They bring together medical oncology, hematology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trial, physical therapy and supportive care all in one convenient location. www.DVOHMG.com