Salmon calcitonin in the treatment of bone metastases.

The effects of salmon calcitonin administered 100 IU i.m. daily for 30 consecutive days were evaluated in patients with painful bone metastasis secondary to different types of solid cancer. The results were compared with placebo-receiving patients. In the 22 patients treated with calcitonin a significant reduction ( p less than 0.001) was observed in the severity of bone pain. Significant reductions were also encountered in the serum alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.02) and urinary hydroxyproline excretion values (p less than 0.05) in calcitonin-treated patients, indicating an inhibition of bone destruction. It is concluded that salmon calcitonin has an important place in the treatment of patients with metastatic bone lesions both as a potent analgesic and as an effective inhibitor of bone destruction.