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strontium-89
Strontium-89 is a radioactive beta-emitting isotope that localizes to areas of increased bone metabolism and delivers targeted radiation to bone lesions.
Strontium-89 is a radioactive beta-emitting isotope that localizes to areas of increased bone metabolism and delivers targeted radiation to bone lesions. Used for Metastatic bone pain in patients with osteoblastic bone metastases (primarily prostate cancer and breast cancer).
At a glance
| Generic name | strontium-89 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Alberta Health services |
| Drug class | Radiopharmaceutical; bone-seeking radioisotope |
| Target | Hydroxyapatite in bone matrix; osteoblast uptake |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Strontium-89 mimics calcium and is preferentially taken up by osteoblasts in areas of high bone turnover, particularly metastatic bone lesions. Once localized, it emits beta particles that deliver high local radiation dose to the lesion while sparing surrounding normal bone tissue. This mechanism provides pain relief and may slow progression of bone metastases.
Approved indications
- Metastatic bone pain in patients with osteoblastic bone metastases (primarily prostate cancer and breast cancer)
Common side effects
- Bone marrow suppression (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia)
- Transient increase in bone pain (flare reaction)
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Key clinical trials
- Zoledronate, Vitamin D, and Calcium With or Without Strontium 89 or Samarium 153 in Preventing or Delaying Bone Problems in Patients With Bone Metastases From Prostate Cancer, Lung Cancer, or Breast Cancer (PHASE3)
- Efficacy of Sr-89 for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With Bone Metastases (PHASE4)
- Doxorubicin and Strontium-89 With or Without Celecoxib in Treating Patients With Progressive Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases (PHASE2)
- Hormone Ablation Therapy, Doxorubicin, and Zoledronate With or Without Strontium 89 in Treating Patients With Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases (PHASE2)
- Chemotherapy With or Without Strontium-89 in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer (PHASE3)
- Docetaxel and Prednisolone With or Without Zoledronic Acid and/or Strontium Chloride Sr 89 in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone That Has Not Responded to Hormone Therapy (PHASE2)
- Strontium Compared With Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer With Painful Bone Metastases (PHASE3)
- A Trial of Strontium +/- Cisplatin for the Palliation of Bone Pain Secondary to Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- strontium-89 CI brief — competitive landscape report
- strontium-89 updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Alberta Health services portfolio CI