Radionuclide Therapy Alleviates Bone Pain in Prostate Cancer Patients

Although not without side effects, strontium-89 was generally well tolerated, he added, noting that it’s important to remember that other treatments used currently also have side effects such as fatigue, nausea, constipation, and anorexia.

"Radionuclide therapy of painful bone metastases may improve the patient’s quality of life in more than 60% of all treated cases."

As for the cost, Dr. Pecking said in an interview that the treatment was not as expensive as people might think. For a single infusion at his institution, the cost is 1,225 euros, but consider that the therapeutic benefit of a single dose can last for up to 150 days, he added.

Comparing the cost with that of other therapies is "really difficult," Dr. Pecking said, noting that patients are usually treated with two or even three analgesics, and that bisphosphonate therapy would probably be in the region of 1,157 euros.

"Today, radionuclide therapy is a palliative option," added Dr. Pecking, used "to reduce analgesic dosages and thus decrease their side effects, particularly when radiation therapy is not a good option, such as in patients with multiple metastatic sites."

In the future, however, it could be used to treat patients with metastatic bone disease, but an alpha-emitter such as radium-223 would need to be used and it would probably be given as an adjuvant therapy and over six courses. Fewer side effects may be expected by switching from a beta-emitter to an alpha-emitter, Dr. Pecking suggested.

The Curie Institute financed the study. Dr. Pecking had no conflicts of interest.