89-Strontium - therapy of skeletal metastases of prostatic carcinoma

Since 1976, 98 patients with multiple bone metastases of prostatic cancer have been referred for treatment. In 2/3 of them metastases were already present at the time of primary tumor diagnosis. Treatment in these cases included systematic management of the underlying disease. After obtaining evidence of 89-Sr uptake, 89-Sr-Cl2 was administered therapeutically in single doses of 37 MBq at yearly intervals. Relief of skeletal pain was noted in 68% of patients by subjective evidence and in 59% by analgesic consumption. Preterminal pain of extreme severity was found to respond in no more than 36% of cases. Radionuclide and X-ray findings were unchanged. The efficacy of treatment depends on the degree of histologic dedifferentiation. Instituting treatment for painless multiple metastases was not found to be preventive (n=33). Higher dosages (75 MBq of 89-SrCL2 at monthly intervals) produced hematologic changes in 9 of 22 patients. Two of the 5 patients followed up showed reduced metastatic activity on scanning. (Author)