Genistein in Treating Patients Undergoing External-Beam Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases

OBJECTIVES: * To determine whether genistein is safe when administered in combination with palliative external beam radiotherapy in patients with osseous metastases. * To determine the time to pain relief, duration of pain relief, and degree of pain relief in patients treated with this regimen. * To determine the incidence of pathologic fractures in patients treated with this regimen. * To determine the effect of this regimen on quality of life measures in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients undergo external beam radiotherapy once daily on days 1-10. Patients also receive oral genistein once daily on days 1-60. Patients complete pain and quality-of-life questionnaires periodically. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed at 30 days.