Effectiveness of radioisotope therapy in bone metastases, based on personal experience

Metastatic bone disease is a major clinical and therapeutic problem. It is particularly marked in patients with advanced breast and prostate cancer. Taking into account the diversity of the consequences of skeletal metastases, multidisciplinary patient care should be provided. Among the available treatment methods, radionuclide therapy plays a significant role. The goal of the study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of treatment with radionuclides of strontium-89 and samarium-153 in patients with generalized bone metastases.

We analyzed 132 patients with poor pharmacological control of bone pain, caused by multiple metastases due to breast or prostate cancer. In this group of patients radionuclide therapy was administered in the Krakow branch of Oncology Centre between 2002 and 2010.

In the group treated with strontium-89 and samarium-153 total analgesic response rate obtained, was 69% and 83.3%, respectively. In both groups, a significant reduction in analgesics consumption was observed, higher in the group treated with samarium-153. In 14 patients with satisfactory analgesic effect after the first administration of a radioisotope, second administration of radionuclide therapy was attempted at the time of symptoms reappearance. The positive response was achieved in 12 patients. Treatment with both radionuclides was well tolerated.

Radionuclide therapy with strontium-89 and samarium-153 is effective and well tolerated treatment of pain caused by the skeletal metastases. In some cases it is possible to obtain equally good analgesic effect with repeated radioisotopes administration.