Pain palliation with rhenium-186 HEDP in breast cancer patients with disseminated bone metastases

Purpose: For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, first results have s hown that rhenium-186 (Re-186) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) is ef ficient in pain palliation of disseminated bone metastases. The aim of this study was to determine whether significant pain reduction can also be achi eved in breast cancer patients with Re-186 HEDP. Methods: Thirty patients with breast cancer who had multifocal painful bone metastases received a total of 38 intravenous Re-186 HEDP injections. Pain relief was assessed through daily documentation of the visual analog scale and analgesic consumption. A significant response to treatment was determi ned if the visual analog scale or analgesic consumption decreased significa ntly for at least 2 weeks. Blood counts were controlled at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8. Results: A response to pain therapy was observed in 60% (18 of 30) of the p atients. A reversible thrombocytopenia and leukopenia of grade 2 (according to World Health Organization criteria) was found in 4 and 2 patients, resp ectively. Conclusion: Patients with disseminated osseous metastases resulting from br east cancer can benefit from therapy with Re-186 HEDP.