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Samarium Sm‐153 lexidronam for the palliation of bone pain associated with metastases
Author(s) -
Serafini Aldo N.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(20000615)88:12+<2934::aid-cncr9>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , adverse effect , placebo , bone pain , toxicity , bone marrow suppression , analgesic , anesthesia , radiation therapy , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology
BACKGROUND In patients with bone pain due to metastatic disease, intravenous systemic radioisotope therapy may be a useful adjunct to other methods for palliating pain. METHODS Various studies have been performed utilizing a short‐lived radioisotope conjugated to a tetraphosphonate (samarium 153 lexidronam) both as an open label and as a double blinded, placebo‐controlled study. Patients with varying tumor types including those of the prostate, breast, lung, and other sites were studied. Two dose levels were used (0.5 millicuries (mCi)/kg and 1.0 mCi/kg) with patients monitored for 16 weeks for efficacy (pain scores, opiod analgesic score, and quality of life) parameters and adverse events. RESULTS All 3 studies showed that at the 1.0 mCi/kg dose level statistically significant improvement over placebo was observed by 4 weeks with relief of pain noted in many patients by 1 week. The only significant adverse event was transient myelosuppression with a nadir at 4–6 weeks and recovery by 8 weeks. Less than 10% of patients had National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Grade III/IV bone marrow toxicity recorded. CONCLUSIONS Systemic metabolic radiotherapy with samarium 153 lexidronam appears to be a safe and efficacious method for treating patients with bone pain. The shorter radioisotope half‐life allows for a high dose rate to be delivered over a short period, which may have certain biologic benefits. Cancer 2000;88:2934–9. © 2000 American Cancer Society.