Therapeutic effects of strontium-89 against ossecous metastases of lung cancer: A clinical analysis of 96 cases

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of strontium-89 on bone metastases and its side effects in patients with lung cancer. Methods Ninety-six patients with bone metastases of lung cancer received strontium-89 treatment (89Sr Cl2) at a dose of 148 MBq through intravenous injection. The analgesic effect was assessed by VAS method and doses or frequency of using analgesic drugs. Other efficacy parameters included changes in the number of osseous lesions on the day 28 after therapy. The changes of white blood cell(WBC) and platelets were assessed. Results The total pain re-lief rate was 70.0% (67/96), among which 21 cases(21.9%) with pain vanished, suggesting significant alleviation of the pain intensity by the treatment on the day 28 after therapy. The number of lesions decreased in 42 cases with effective rate of 43.6%, showing the bone metastases significantly decreased after the therapy. WBC and platelets reached the lowest level at first month, decreasing by 34.5% and 47. 8% respectively. But at three months after treatment, WBC and platelets recovered in most patients, which meant a total normal rate of 95.8% (91/96). Conclusions Strontium-89 is effective to relieve pain and prevent bone lesions in patients with bone metastases of the lung cancer and has slight side effects. Key words: Strontium radioisotopes;  Lung cancer;  Bone metastasis; Treatment