Abstract

The use of the bone seeking radiopharmaceutical samarium-153-ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonate (153Sm-EDTMP) for the treatment of bone pain secondary to osseous metastatic disease has increased in popularity over the past decade. The success of this treatment has opened new possibilities for the application of this agent as a component of a multi-modality treatment regimen for primary bone tumors. Targeted radiotherapy using 153Sm-EDTMP is currently under investigation for treatment of osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma often occurs in skeletally immature individuals; however, the overall effects 153Sm-EDTMP on skeletal growth have yet to be determined. This review discusses the use of 153Sm-EDTMP as an adjuvant treatment for primary bone tumors. In addition, preliminary studies have been performed to determine the effects that 153Sm-EDTMP may have on skeletal growth and physeal cartilage development in a juvenile rabbit model and these results are discussed.

Keywords: Osteosarcoma, Samarium, juvenile, physeal cartilage