Clodronate is one of a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, medications used to treat bone metastases (i.e, tumors that have spread from their primary location to the bone) in cancer patients.
Benefits of clodronate for cancer patients with bone metastases are:[1]
• Reduction of pain from bone metastases
• Inhibition of the breakdown of bone
• Reduction of hypercalcemia, a condition characterized by excess calcium
The way that clodronate works is by the following steps:[1]
• Binding to calcium in the bone
• Preventing the formation and destruction of crystals of hydroxapatite in the bone
• Lowering the amount of turnover (i.e., destruction and re-formation) of bone
• Blocking the destruction of bone due to the action of osteoclasts, bone cells involved in breaking down bone
REFERENCES
1. National Cancer Institute. NCI Drug Dictionary. Accessed at www.cancer.gov.
2. National Cancer Institute. Physicians Data Query. Accessed at www.cancer.gov.
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