Preliminary results of combined application of radioisotopes and biphosphonates in the management of pain associated with osteoblastic-osteolytic bone metastases of breast cancer.

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectivness of connected therapy using strontium 89 or Sm153 (osteoblastic component) and bisphosphonate therapy (osteolytic component) in the group of breast cancer patients with multiple osteoblastic-osteolytic (mixt) bone metastases.
Material and methods. The study included 16 patients with breast cancer and multiple bone painful metastases detected by scintigraphy and by radiogram or CT or MRI (the type of metastases). Each patient received a standard dose of strontium 89 (Metastron) or samarium 153 (Quadramet) combined with intravenous infusion of pamidronate (Aredia) or zoledronate (Zometa). The bisphosphonate therapy was repeated every month. For assessment of therapy effectivness; pain relief (VAS scale), a reduction in analgesic requirements and motor activity (ECOG and Karnofsky scale) were evaluated. The group of 10 patients treated with bisphosphonate only in the same time was observed.
Results. We conclude that connected palliative therapy using strontium 89 and bisphosphonates is effective (66-75% "good" and "moderate" response rate) and safe for bone pain palliation in patients with multiple osteoblastic-osteolytic bone metastases from breast cancer. We have observed that the analgesic requirments decreased to 30% of dose on average. The motor activity of the points evaluated according to ECOG scale increased from 3 to 2 and from 50 to 60 to Karnofsky scale.
Conclusions. The results of treatment in the group with radioisotope and bisphosphonate were better than in the group treated with bisphosphonates or radioisotope only.