Pain palliation with rhenium-186 HEDP in breast cancer patients with disseminated bone metastases.
OBJECTIVE
For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, first results have shown that rhenium-186 (Re-186) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) is efficient in pain palliation of disseminated bone metastases. The aim of this study was to determine whether significant pain reduction can also be achieved in breast cancer patients with Re-186 HEDP.


METHODS
Thirty patients with breast cancer who had multifocal painful bone metastases received a total of 38 intravenous Re-186 HEDP injections. Pain relief was assessed through daily documentation of the visual analog scale and analgesic consumption. A significant response to treatment was determined if the visual analog scale or analgesic consumption decreased significantly for at least 2 weeks. Blood counts were controlled at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8.


RESULTS
A response to pain therapy was observed in 60% (18 of 30) of the patients. A reversible thrombocytopenia and leukopenia of grade 2 (according to World Health Organization criteria) was found in 4 and 2 patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with disseminated osseous metastases resulting from breast cancer can benefit from therapy with Re-186 HEDP.
Palmedo
H
H
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bonn, Germany.
Bender
H
H
Dierke-Dzierzon
C
C
Carl
U M
UM
Risse
J
J
Krebs
D
D
Biersack
H J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012211:Rhenium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012211:Rhenium; D012968:Etidronic Acid