HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Watanabe, N. Articles by Goodwin, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Watanabe, N. Articles by Goodwin, D. A.

Radiotoxicity After Strontium-89 Therapy for Bone Metastases Using the Micronucleus Assay

Department of Radiology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan; Department of Radiology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan; Nuclear Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Health Sciences, Palo Alto, California; Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Naoto Watanabe, MD, Department of Radiology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani 2630, Toyama, Japan 930-0194.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of cytologic radiation damage to lymphocytes after ⁸⁹Sr therapy using the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay. The chromosomal damage to lymphocytes exposed to ⁸⁹Sr in vivo should result in augmentation of the number of cells with micronucleus. Methods: We studied eight patients with painful bone metastases, who were treated with 111 MBq ⁸⁹Sr. Isolated lymphocytes collected from the patients 1 wk after therapy were harvested and treated according to the cytokinesis-blocked method of Fenech and Morley. The number of micronuclei per 500 binucleated cells was scored by visual inspection. As controls, lymphocytes from the same patients before therapy were also studied. For three patients, serial blood samples were examined for a maximum of 2 mo after therapy. In an in vitro study, lymphocytes from five normal volunteers were exposed to doses varying from 0.25 to 1.0 Gy and studied with the same method. Results: The mean number (± s.d.) of micronuclei per 500 binucleated cells after treatment was significantly increased (p < 0.05) as compared to control subjects (17.1 ± 3.0 compared to 6.0 ± 1.7). Thereafter, the number of micronuclei recovered gradually by 6 wk following therapy and, in one case, nearly to the baseline range in 2 mo. The number of micronuclei after 0.53 ± 0.13 Gy of external irradiation was nearly equivalent to that after ⁸⁹Sr therapy. Conclusion: The relativelylow frequency of lymphocyte micronuclei exposed to ⁸⁹Sr in vivo supported the contention that short-term nonstochastic damage with 111 MBq ⁸⁹Sr in patients with painful bone metastasesis minimal.

Key Words: micronucleus assay • painful bone metastasess • strontium-89 therapy • radiotoxicity