Re-186(Sn) HEDP for treatment of painful osseous metastases: initial clinical experience in 20 patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer.

Rhenium-186(tin) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) is a new radiopharmaceutical that localizes in areas of osseous metastases in a manner similar to that of standard bone-scanning agents. It also emits beta particles with sufficient energy to be therapeutically useful. A single intravenous injection of about 33 mCi (1,221 MBq) was given to each of 20 elderly patients with advanced skeletal metastases from hormonally resistant prostate cancer. Prompt, significant relief of pain occurred 80% of the time with no significant side effects and only minimal, transient marrow toxicity. Re-186(Sn) HEDP appears to be a useful new agent for the palliation of painful osseous metastases in prostate cancer.