Giuseppe De Vincentis1, Viviana Frantellizzi1,2, Giulia Anna Follacchio1, Alessio Farcomeni3, Arianna Pani4, Riccardo Samaritani5, Giovanni Schinzari6, Daniele Santini7, Enrico Cortesi1. 1. Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 2. PhD Program: Angio-Cardio-Thoracic Pathophisiology and Imaging, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4. Postgraduate School of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Milan "La Statale", Milan, Italy. 5. Oncology Unit, Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy. 6. Institute of Internal Medicine, Clinical Oncology Unit, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. 7. Medical Oncology Department, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Painful bone metastases cause reduced quality of life (QoL) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Alpha-emitter 223Radium is associated with a clear survival benefit and significant bone pain palliation in CRPC patients with symptomatic bone metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between pain relief and psychological distress during the time course of therapy in patients treated with 223Radium. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with mCRPC undergoing 223Radium treatment in our Nuclear Medicine Unit, carefully instructed on the possibility of improving the pain and increasing the survival by the treatment, were retrospectively evaluated. Pain response during treatment was assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory Numeric Rating Scale. Psychological distress was evaluated through the analysis of specific items from EORTC QoL questionnaires C30 and BM22, submitted to patients at baseline and after each 223Radium cycle. RESULTS: Pain intensity showed a significant decrease after first 223Radium administration (-1.03 points, p = 0.0032), with a subsequent stability through the course of treatment (-1.30 points, p = <0.001). Psychological status did not show significant variations during 223Radium treatment, and no association was found between psychological status and pain relief in our population. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, bone pain palliation provided by 223Radium do not correlate with an improved psychological status in patients with advanced PC. This observation emphasises the role of the psychological aspect in the evaluation of the QoL and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in which the emotional aspect of the patient is carefully evaluated.
OBJECTIVE: Painful bone metastases cause reduced quality of life (QoL) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Alpha-emitter 223Radium is associated with a clear survival benefit and significant bone pain palliation in CRPC patients with symptomatic bone metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between pain relief and psychological distress during the time course of therapy in patients treated with 223Radium. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with mCRPC undergoing 223Radium treatment in our Nuclear Medicine Unit, carefully instructed on the possibility of improving the pain and increasing the survival by the treatment, were retrospectively evaluated. Pain response during treatment was assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory Numeric Rating Scale. Psychological distress was evaluated through the analysis of specific items from EORTC QoL questionnaires C30 and BM22, submitted to patients at baseline and after each 223Radium cycle. RESULTS:Pain intensity showed a significant decrease after first 223Radium administration (-1.03 points, p = 0.0032), with a subsequent stability through the course of treatment (-1.30 points, p = <0.001). Psychological status did not show significant variations during 223Radium treatment, and no association was found between psychological status and pain relief in our population. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, bone pain palliation provided by 223Radium do not correlate with an improved psychological status in patients with advanced PC. This observation emphasises the role of the psychological aspect in the evaluation of the QoL and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in which the emotional aspect of the patient is carefully evaluated.