125I brachytherapy: a useful treatment to control painful osteoblastic bone metastases

Backgrounds(125)I brachytherapy is effective in relieving cancer pain due to osteolytic bone metastases. However, fewer studies focused on painful osteoblastic bone metastases (OBMs), we conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of I-125 brachytherapy for the treatment of painful OBMs. MethodsFrom April 2017 to April 2019, clinical data of a total of 65 patients with OBMs who underwent CT/cone beam CT -guided I-125 brachytherapy were collected and analyzed. The primary study endpoints were technical success, relief of pain (RoP), and quality of life (QoL). The secondary study endpoints were treatment-related complications, local tumor control (LCR), and overall survival (OS). The logistic regression analysis was performed to predict RoP. ResultsTechnical success rate was 100%. Visual analog scale scores and daily morphine consumption continuously decreased significantly at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks (all P < 0.05). The RoP at 6 weeks was 84.62%. QoL presented improvement at 6 and 10 weeks. Only minor complications occurred in 12 patients (18.46%). LCR was 93.85% at 10 weeks. The OS was 29.80 months. Two factors were significantly associated with the RoP: max diameter (MD, < 3 cm vs. & GE; 3 cm, P = 0.019) and serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP, & GE; 100 U/L vs. < 100 U/L, P = 0.016). Conclusions(125)I brachytherapy is an effective treatment in relieving painful OBMs and improving patients' QoL.