Antitumor Activity of Novel Bone-seeking, α-emitting 224 Ra-solution in a Breast Cancer Skeletal Metastases Model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bone metastases are associated with increased morbidity and poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. The present study investigated the effects of targeted radionuclide therapy with α-emitting, bone-seeking radium-224 (224 Ra) on osteolytic bone metastasis of MDA-MB-231(SA)-GFP human breast cancer cells injected intracardially into nude mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vehicle, ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP) and 224 Ra-solution (45, 91 or 179 kBq/kg) with EDTMP were intravenously administered to mice two days after cell injection. The bone-seeking EDTMP was added to the 224 Ra-solution to improve bone targeting of 212 Pb, which is a progeny of 224 Ra.

RESULTS: Radium-224 solution treatment decreased in a dose-dependent manner the areas of osteolytic lesions in the hind limbs and the number of tumor foci in the whole skeleton, and extended survival. Paraplegia was not observed in 179 kBq/kg 224 Ra-solution group.

CONCLUSION: Radium-224-solution containing chelated 212 Pb is a promising candidate for the treatment of breast cancer patients with bone metastases.