Findings Included trials were mainly of patients with prostate or breast cancer. Only two trials were randomised controlled trials. Randomised controlled trials One trial compared strontium 89 with external beam therapy in 305 patients with painful prostatic metastatic cancer. All patients received local field irradiation, and were then randomised to placebo or strontium 89. Overall symptom relief and survival were similar in the two groups.
Hematologic toxicity is summarised as mild and reversible.
This is similar to response rates for other radiopharmaceuticals used for cancer pain palliation. Both have hematologic toxicity described as mild and reversible.