Evaluation of Strontium-89 therapy for cancer pain from bone metastases

The aim of this study is to present an evaluation of Strontium-89 therapy for the reduction of cancer pain from bone metastases in patients with prostate and breast cancer. At present, the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor in men is the prostate cancer, and otherwise for women breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed. Autopsy studies revealed that of the patients with prostate and breast cancer up to 85% of them will eventually develop osseous metastases. Bone pain from metastatic cancer is estimated to occur in 75-85% of the patients who have osseous metastatic disease. Strontium-89 is suggested as having a therapeutic role in the palliation of bone pain associated with metastatic bone disease. Metastatic bone has been shown to retain Strontium longer than normal bone. Hematologic undesirable effects are mild. Intensity of bone pain from metastatic cancer usually is very severe and permanent, and thus the patient can become very weak and this condition can diminish the quality of life before the relentless outcomes. When the pain is properly controlled, many patients can return momentarily to their normal activities. Relief of this distressing pain and improvement in the patient's quality of life with Strontium-89 is then a treatment option. Twenty-seven patients (24 with prostate cancer and 3 with breast cancer) with cancer pain from bone metastases were included in the study. Of these, 24 were men (prostate cancer) and 3 were women (breast cancer). This therapy led to a reduction of pain and analgesic opiod consumption in the patients studied, and thus Strostium-89 appears to be efficacious to relief this pain. The results obtained are presented and discussed.