BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the effect of ⁸⁹SrCl₂ and/or Bonefos in the treatment of bone metastasis from pulmonary carcinoma.

METHODSA total of sixty-seven lung cancer patients with bone metastasis were enrolled in this study, who were divided into three groups: nineteen cases were treated with ⁸⁹SrCl₂; twenty-eight cases with Bonefos; and twenty cases combined ⁸⁹SrCl₂ with Bonefos.

RESULTSThe total relief rate of the bone pain: the ⁸⁹SrCl₂ group was 84.2%, and the Bonefos group was 80.4%, the combination group was 90.0%. There was no statistical difference among three groups (P > 0.05). The effective rate of the bone metastasis: the ⁸⁹SrCl₂ group was 15.7%, the Bonefos group was 10.7%, and the combination group was 45.0%. The combination group had significantly higher effective rate than that of the ⁸⁹SrCl₂ group or the Bonefos group alone (P < 0.05). The rate of improvement of quality of life: the ⁸⁹SrCl₂ group was 47.3%, the Bonefos group was 42.8%, and the combination group was 80.0%. The combination group had significantly higher effective rate than that of the ⁸⁹SrCl₂ group or the Bonefos group alone (P < 0.05). The side effects of three groups were minimal.

CONCLUSIONS⁸⁹SrCl₂ and Bonefos are two effective and safe drugs on relief of pain. Combined ⁸⁹SrCl₂ and Bonefos might be a better therapy for bone metastasis and improvement of quality of life than the single one, and the side effect is slight and tolerable.