Onkologie. 2011:5(1):34-39

Palliative radionuclide therapy for painful bone metastases by means of 186Rhenium-HEDP

Jiří Doležal

Oddělení nukleární medicíny, Fakultní nemocnice, Hradec Králové a Univerzita Karlova Praha,

Lékařská fakulta v Hradci Králové

Aim: to present results of the 186Rhenium-HEDP systemic radionuclide treatment in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer

or breast cancer and painful bone metastases.

Material and method: Thirty-four patients (aged 38–82, mean 69 years; 18 hormone-refractory prostate cancer, 16 breast cancer) with

multiple bone metastases and bone pain received 186Rhenium-HEDP. Applied dosage was 1 426 MBq. Karnofsky performance status, pain

score (Numerical Rating Scale), analgesic score (WHO) and blood count were evaluated before and 1 and 3 months after the treatment.

Results: Significant pain relief was observed in 44 % and 30 % of patients, mild relief in 21 % and 29 % and no effect in 35 % and 41 % of

patients one and three months after administration, respectively. The pain palliation was accompanied by an improvement in mobility

and a decrease in necessary dosage of analgetics. Mild and transient bone marrow suppression was observed as a side effect of 186Rhenium-

HEDP treatment. None of the patients showed haematological toxicity grade 4, and only 4 patients showed grade 3 (NCI CTC). The

majority of patients had haematological toxicity grade 1 or 2. No patient had bleeding or infections complications.

Conclusion: After administration of 186Rhenium-HEDP bone pain palliation was observed in 59 % of patients for three months. The

haematological toxicity after 186Rhenium-HEDP treatment was mild and transient.

Keywords: bone pain, prostate cancer, breast cancer- bone metastases, 186Rhenium-HEDP

Published: February 25, 2011  Show citation