Bone-targeted therapies

Bone-targeted therapies are used to delay or prevent symptoms, for example pain, that arise because of the spread of cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. cells to the bones without causing damage to normal cells.

One type of therapy is with a group of drugs known as bisphosphonatesA family of drugs that prevent the break down of bone by cells called osteoclasts., which can be used to delay or suppress bone metastasesSecondary tumours’ that result from the spread of a malignant tumour to other parts of the body. and also to treat osteoporosis that may occur as a side effect of hormonal treatment.

Another bone-targeted therapy is with radioactive isotopes such as Strontium-89 and Rhenium-186. These are taken up by cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. cells in the bone and through this can improve pain control and prevent new sites of bone pain developing.