Background: Radium-223 (Ra-223), a targeted alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical approved for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer (mPC), can cause myelosuppression. In the ALSYMPCA trial 30% of patients developed cytopenias, including 13% with grade 3/4 anemia. Therefore, it is recommended that only men with a hemoglobin ≥10 g/dL, platelet count ≥100,000/mm3, and ANC ≥1,500/mm3 be considered for Ra-223. Since the FDA approval of Ra-223 in 2013, several new treatments have been approved for men with mPC. With the changing therapeutic landscape, we anticipate more patients (pts) will have preexisting cytopenia prior to Ra-223 consideration. Hence, clinicians are increasingly likely to face the dilemma of whether it is safe and efficacious to administer Ra-223 in the setting of Hgb ≤10 with/without RBC transfusion support. Methods: We retrospectively identified pts with mPC treated with Ra-223, including a subset of men with Hgb <10g/dl at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Tulane Cancer Center from 2014 – 2019. Clinical data including demographics, prior cancer treatments, laboratory data, blood product transfusion data, and oncologic outcomes were collected. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and statistical analysis was conducted using student’s t-test. Results: Sixty-two pts were identified. Median age at the time of Ra-223 was 75.3 years. Of these, nearly 20% (n=12) had a Hgb <10 g/dL and/or received RBC transfusions to meet “eligibility criteria” prior to beginning Ra-223 treatments. Compared to men who had Hgb >10g/dL, men with Hgb <10g/dL required more RBC transfusions both during and after Ra-223 treatment and had significantly worse oncologic outcomes. No patients experienced treatment delays of more than 1 week. There were no significant differences in the median number of treatments prior to Ra-223, median number of Ra-223 treatments received, platelet count nadir, or ANC nadir. Conclusions: Pre-existing Hgb < 10 g/dl and/or RBC transfusions prior to Ra-223 therapy is associated with worse oncologic outcomes in mPC, suggesting that the benefit of Ra-223 is limited in this subset. A larger sample size is needed to further validate our findings. Multivariable analysis is planned.

OS: Overall survival; PFS: progression-free survival; ANC: absolute neutrophil count.