We have used
strontium-89 chloride (89Sr) for the
palliative treatment of metastatic bone
pain. Seventy-six patients (50 males with prostate
carcinoma and 26 females with
breast cancer) were treated with 148 MBq of 89Sr. Sixteen patients were retreated, receiving two or three doses; the total number of injected doses was consequently 95. The Karnofsky performance status was assessed and
pain and
analgesia were scored on scales of 9 and 5 points, respectively. The efficacy of 89Sr was evaluated at 3 months of treatment. Three levels of response were considered: good - when there was an increase in the Karnofsky status and a decrease in the
pain score (equal to or higher than 4) or
analgesic score (equal to or higher than 1); partial - when there was an increase in the Karnofsky status and a decrease in the
pain score (2 or 3 points) without significant changes in the
analgesic score; no response - if no variation or deterioration in these parameters was observed. In
prostate cancer patients, the response was good in 64% of cases and partial in 25%, and there was no response in the remaining 11%. In
breast cancer patients, the response was good in 62% of cases and partial in 31%, and there was no response in the remaining 8%. Duration of the response ranged from 3 to 12 months (mean 6 months). In the patients who were retreated the effectiveness was as good as after the first dose of 89Sr. A decrease in the initial leucocyte and platelet counts was observed after the 1st month of treatment, with a gradual partial to complete recovery within 6 months. It is concluded that 89Sr is an effective agent in
palliative therapy for metastatic bone
pain in patients with prostate or
breast carcinoma. If required,
retreatment can be administered safely and with the same efficacy as is achieved by the first dose.