[Palliative treatment for pain in osseous metastasized prostatic carcinoma with osteotropic rhenium-186 hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP)].

Systemic administration of strontium-89 is an important option for pain relief in advanced prostate carcinoma with multiple osseous metastases. Recently, rhenium-186-HEDP was introduced as a new substance which has important advantages (shorter physical half-life, scintigraphic imaging, dose distribution). The myelosuppressive effect can be estimated more accurately in advance, so that adverse effects can be reduced and the treatment can be repeated after a shorter period of time and more often. Our study comprises 15 treatments with rhenium-186-HEDP in advanced prostate cancer patients using the 1.4- to 2-fold standard dose. The response rate, estimated as reduction in pain and increase in patient mobility, was 87% with no major myelosuppressive effects. The mean duration of pain relief was 4-6 weeks. All four patients with repeated therapy were also responding to the second treatment. Radionuclide therapy for painful osseous metastases with rhenium-186-HEDP appears to be an effective and, even at higher doses, safe procedure.