Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed bone metastases

- Pain refractory to non-opioid analgesic medication and radiotherapy OR

- Patient is considered a poor candidate for opioid analgesics or radiotherapy

- Initial worst pain score within the past 24 hours at least 4 on a scale of 0-10

- Tumors deemed accessible for radiofrequency ablation

- No evidence of impending fracture in weight-bearing bones (more than 50% loss of
cortical bone)

- Tumors must be more than 1 cm from critical structures including:

- Spinal cord, brain, or other critical nerve structures

- Large abdominal vessel (e.g., aorta or inferior vena cava)

- Bowel or bladder

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Not specified

Life expectancy:

- More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3

Hepatic:

- INR less than 1.5

Renal:

- Not specified

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

- Not specified

Other:

- At least 3 days since prior aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs

- No concurrent anticoagulants