Bone is the third most common organ affected by neoplastic metastases, and about 70% of patients with breast cancer or prostate cancer that develop metastases will have osseous involvement.
As part of a multi-pronged approach to pain management in these patients, external beam radio therapy (EBRT) continues to be a mainstay of treatment for metastatic bone pain. This article reviews the role of radiation therapy in palliative management strategies for patients with bone metastases, including the clinical and cost-effectiveness of single fraction (SFRT) versus multiple fraction (MFRT) EBRT in pain relief. Studies indicate that SFRT is more cost-effective than MFRT, yet both are clinically effective in pain management. Therefore, EBRT use retains an important place among analgesia, bone modifying agents, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy in improving quality of life (QoL) and reducing morbidity from metastatic bone pain.
Written by:
Cai B, Nickman NA, Gaffney DK. Are you the author?
Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Reference: J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2013 Feb 8. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.3109/15360288.2012.757267
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23394451
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