Kurosaka, S., Satoh, T., Chow, E., Asano, Y., Tabata, K., Kimura, M., . . . Baba, S. (2012). EORTC QLQ-BM22 and QLQ-C30 quality of life scores in patients with painful bone metastases of prostate cancer treated with strontium-89 radionuclide therapy. Annals of Nuclear Medicine, 26, 485–491.

To evaluate the effect of Sr-89 radionuclide therapy on the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer with painful bone metastases

Sr-89 radionuclide therapy is an established alternative for the palliation of bone pain in prostate cancer. This study is to assess the Sr-89 radionuclide therapy on quality of life (QOL) in patients with prostate cancer and painful bone metastasis.

• N = 13
• AGE = Unknown
• MALES: 100%        
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Prostate cancer with bone metastases
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Painful bone metastases

• SITE: Single-site 
• SETTING TYPE: Not specified 
• LOCATION: Japan

• PHASE OF CARE: Late-effects and survivorship
• APPLICATIONS: Palliative care

12-week, prospective, single-arm, open-label study

• Japanese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BM22 and -C30) scale
• Visual Analog Scale (VAS)/Faces Pain Scale (FPS)
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
• Alkaline phosphate (ALP) test

Three patients reduced their analgesic dosages within three months after Sr-89 treatment. No patients increased their analgesics dosages during the study period. According to the ECOG scale, performance status prior to the Sr-89 treatment was reported by the physician to be 0 or 1 in three patients (23.1%) and 2 or greater in the remaining 10 patients (76.9%). In the QLQ-C30, the mean score for global QOL was 29.9. Overall, there were no significant changes in patients' serum PSA and ALP after Se-89 therapy.

Using the EORTC QLQ-BM22 module, this study showed that Sr-89 therapy improves the comprehensive quality of life of patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases pain. This radionuclide therapy can provide not only reduced pain but also better psychosocial aspects and functional interference in this patient population.

• Small sample (< 30)
• Key sample group differences that could influence results
• Other limitations/explanation: Follow-up period after SR-89 intervention was short (three months). Efficacy if repeated-dose administration were given and the durable effect of Sr-89 were not evaluated.

Treatment with Sr-89 for prostate cancer with painful bone metastases could assist in pain management for this group of patients.