Has the percutaneous vertebroplasty a role to prevent progression or local recurrence in spinal metastases of breast cancer

Summary Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) on the prevention of progression or local recurrence in patients with spinal metastases from breast cancer. Materials and methods Retrospective study on 55 patients between 27–78 years of age (mean age: 55 years) treated for metastatic breast cancer in the same institution (Curie institute, Paris, France), who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) (number of vertebrae treated = 137) for spinal metastases from January 2000 to December 2009 at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital. Statistical correlation between the local tumor progression/recurrence, and the presence of an epidural or a paravertebral metastatic extension at diagnosis, the rate of cement filling the lesion ( 2 and Fisher's exact test. Results The rate of local tumor progression/recurrence of the vertebrae treated by vertebroplasty was 14% (19/137). No statistically significant correlation between either the rate of cement filling of the lesion, or the presence of an epidural or paravertebral metastatic extension, and progression/local recurrence after vertebroplasty was found. No influence of radiotherapy in preventing local progression/recurrence was noted. Distant new bone metastases were observed in 47 out of 55 patients (86%). Conclusion The low rate of local tumor progression/recurrence after a vertebroplasty may support the hypothesis of an antitumor effect of the cement.