From 1988 to 1991, 284 patients with prostatic cancer and painful bone metastases were treated with either radiotherapy or strontium-89 (200 MBq). Patients were first stratified according to suitability for local or hemibody radiotherapy, then randomly allocated that form of treatment or strontium-89 (i.v. injection). After 4, 8 and 12 weeks pain sites were mapped, toxicity monitored, and all a...

We report a case of tumor regression of multiple bone metastases from breast carcinoma after administration of strontium-89 chloride. This case suggests that strontium-89 chloride can not only relieve bone metastases pain not responsive to analgesics, but may also have a tumoricidal effect on bone metastases.

In a previous paper (1) it was shown that discrimination against strontium as compared to calcium, in the formation of synthetic hydroxyapatite, Calo(POJ)6(OH)2, was greater in large, more slowly grown crystals than in small, more rapidly precipitated crystals. The exclusion of strontium as compared to calcium in the hydroxyapatite crystals increases as the preparation conditions approach equil...

Strontium-89 (Sr-89) alone or with concurrent chemotherapy has a role in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer (PCP). The schedules for repeated doses of Sr-89 or for concurrent chemotherapy is undetermined. The objective of this study was to measure the effective half-life (Te) of Sr-89 using a detector available in a nuclear research facility. Blood and urine samples obtained from PC...

Strontium-89 (Sr), a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical, has been used successfully in recent trials to palliate bone pain secondary to metastatic disease. The use of this beta emitter in systemic radionuclide therapy should become an integral part in the management of many patients with metastatic disease to the bone. Intravenous Sr may be used in conjunction with standard chemotherapy and exter...

Strontium (atomic symbol Sr) is a silvery-white alkaline earth metal that exists in several stable (e.g., Sr-86 and Sr-88) and several radioactive (e.g., Sr-89 and Sr-90) isotopic states. Stable strontium and its salts have many industrial uses, such as providing the red color in pyrotechnic devices such as tracer bullets, distress signal rockets, flares, and fireworks. In medicine, strontium b...

This report describes the case of a 57-year-old woman with liver and bone metastases from malignant insulinoma, who was afflicted with severe hypoglycemia. Treatment of the liver metastases using octreotide, diazoxide and transarterial embolization failed to raise her blood glucose level and she required constant glucose infusion (about 1000 kcal/day) and oral feeding (about 2200 kcal/day) to a...

Osteoporosis was originally described in literature and art hundreds of years ago. Our ability to treat this disease lay dormant for centuries, but in the past 10 years, clinical trials have improved treatment options and efficacy. In this issue of the Journal , Meunier et al. 1 report on their study of the safety and effectiveness of strontium ranelate as a putative, novel therapy for osteopor...