The Nuclear Medicine Annual for 1988 is the ninth in this series. Unlike the Year Book of Nuclear Medicine, it contains a number of reviews on subjects of current interest in nuclear medicine. The articles are of clinical rather than technical interest. The first is from the Guy's group reviewing the value of bone scintigraphy in breast cancer. It gives the background to bone scintigraphy and contains a series of valuable tables on the frequency of bone mestases, the relative efficiency of radiographs, isotope imaging and the relation between positive scans and survival—all useful information in the days of seeking ways of being cost effective.
The British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) has developed a Research Strategy framework led by the Research Champions of the BNMS and overseen by the BNMS Research and Innovation Committee. The objectives of the Research Strategy are to improve translation of cutting-edge nuclear medicine research from bench to bedside, the implementation of state-of-the-art multimodality technologies and to enhance multicentre radionuclide research in the UK. It strives to involve patients and the public in radionuclide research and to contribute to and work with the multi-professional national and international organisations involved in research with an ultimate aim to improve nuclear medicine services, and patients’ outcomes and care.
Abstract The concentration of phospholipid metabolites was determined in chemical extracts from two types of rat mammary tumours and compared with proliferation data (S‐phase fraction). One of the tumours was an oestrogen‐sensitive transplanted tumour. In this tumour the concentration of phosphocholine (PC) and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) correlated strongly with the S‐phase fraction but not with the number of cells actively synthesizing DNA. Oestrogen ablation resulted in tumour regression. Regressing tumours contained less PC and more GPC than those actively growing. The other tumour was induced in rats by intravenous administration of N ‐methyl N ‐nitrosourea. Phosphoethanolamine (PE), PC and GPC levels were not associated with the S‐phase fraction in this tumour. Oestrogen ablation resulted in tumour regression. There was no significant difference between the regressing and growing tumours in PE, PC or GPC content.
4562 Background: Bone marrow is the dose-limiting organ for bone seeking radionuclide therapy of bone metastases from prostate cancer. This prospective phase 2 trial investigated the potential for improvement in disease control by using autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant to permit administration of high activities of a bone seeking radionuclide, Rhenium-186 HEDP in patients with progressive hormone refractory prostate cancer. Methods: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed prostate cancer metastatic to the skeleton, rising PSA despite castrate testosterone levels, WHO PS 0–1, and minimal soft-tissue disease. Patients received between 4500 and 5000MBq of Rhenium-186 HEDP i.v. (approximately 4 times the dose normally used for palliation), followed 14 days later by the return of pre-harvested PBSCs. Response was assessed using PSA, survival, pain scores, and quality of life measurement. Results: Thirty-eight patients with a median age of 67 years (range 50–77), and a median PSA of 57 ng/ml (range 4–3628) received a median activity of 4978 MBq Rhenium-186 HEDP (range 4400–5097). At a median follow up of 12 months (range 3–32), the most serious toxicity was short-lived (<7 days) grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 8 (21%) patients. The median survival of the group is 31 months with a Kaplan-Meier estimated 1 and 2-year survivals of 81% and 50% respectively. Twenty six patients (60%, 95% CI, 45–74%) had stable or reduced PSA levels 3 months post therapy, 10 of whom had PSA reductions of > 50% lasting > 4 weeks. Quality of life measures were stable or improved in 29 (76%) at 3 months. Conclusions: We believe the survival data and PSA response rates in this group of heavily pre-treated patients are encouraging and merit further investigation in a randomised trial. No significant financial relationships to disclose.