Early clinical evaluation of repeated radioactive strontium injection for the palliative therapy of multiple bone metastasis

Palliative therapy using radioactive strontium (89Sr) was performed to 22 cancer suffering patients. Fifty five percents patients had stopped opiate and/or analgesic. Forty six percents of patients had reduced opiate or analgesic doses. Pain relief continued up to three month over. Repeated usage of 89Sr with/without opiate and analgesic can maintain the reduced pain level. The side effects of repeated usage of 89Sr were the decrease of hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC) and platelets. Hemoglobin after 3 times 89Sr injection decreased about 80% of pre-injection level, and that of WBC and platelet reached 40% lower than pre-injection level. (author)