Radiopharmaceuticals: When and how to use them to treat metastatic bone pain

Fabio M. Paes, Vinicius Ernani, Peter Hosein, Aldo N. Serafini

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bone pain due to skeletal metastases constitutes the most common type of cancer-related pain. The management of bone pain remains challenging and is not standardized. In patients with multifocal osteoblastic metastases, systemic radiopharmaceuticals should be the preferred adjunctive therapy for pain palliation. The lack of general knowledge about radiopharmaceuticals, their clinical utility and safety profiles, constitutes the major cause for their underutilization. Our goal is to review the indications, selection criteria, efficacy, and toxicities of two approved radiopharmaceuticals for bone pain palliation: strontium-89 and samarium-153. Finally, a brief review of the data on combination therapy with bisphosphonates or chemotherapy is included.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)197-205
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Supportive Oncology
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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