Phosphorus-32 for intractable pain in carcinoma of prostate. Analysis of androgen priming, parathormone rebound, and combination therapy.

Thirty-three patients with intractable pain caused by diffuse osteoblastic metastases from carcinoma of the prostate were treated with phosphorus-32 (32P) therapy either androgen priming, parathormone rebound, or a combination of both priming methods. Significant response to pain was achieved in 12 of 19 patients receiving testosterone-potentiated therapy, 0 of 5 patients treated with parathormone alone, and 6 of 9 patients receiving a combination of both priming modalities. It is concluded that androgen priming alone is the simplest and most effective method to be used when 32P therapy is being considered for palliative control of pain in patients with carcinoma of prostate.