Radium-223

Radium-223 is a radioactive substance used in the treatment of cancer, specifically prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. It is a type of radiopharmaceutical and a type of alpha particle-emitting radioactive therapeutic agent.

Overview

Radium-223 is a radioactive isotope of radium, selected for its ability to kill cancer cells. The radium-223 isotope decays to produce alpha particles, which have a very short range and are powerful enough to cause significant damage to the cells they pass through. This makes radium-223 an effective treatment for cancer, as it can kill cancer cells without causing significant harm to healthy cells.

Use in Medicine

In medicine, radium-223 is used in a treatment called radiopharmaceutical therapy. This therapy is used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones (metastatic prostate cancer). Radium-223 is administered intravenously, typically once a month for six months. The radium-223 travels through the bloodstream to the bones, where it binds to areas of increased bone turnover, such as those associated with bone metastases. The alpha particles emitted by the radium-223 then kill the cancer cells.

Side Effects

Like all treatments, radium-223 can cause side effects. These can include nausea, diarrhea, and a decreased number of blood cells. Patients receiving radium-223 should be closely monitored for these and other potential side effects.

Research

Research is ongoing into the use of radium-223 in the treatment of other types of cancer, and into ways of making the treatment more effective. This includes research into combination therapies, where radium-223 is used alongside other treatments.

See Also

• Radiopharmaceutical therapy
• Prostate cancer
• Cancer treatment
• Radioactive isotope

References

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