Pamidronate is a synthetic medication within a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which are used to treat bone metastases (i.e, tumors that have spread from their primary location to the bone) in cancer patients.[1, 2]
The way that pamidronate works is by the following steps:[1]
• Adsorbing (binding to) crystals of calcium phosphate in bone
• Inhibiting the breakdown of crystals of calcium phosphate in bone
• Blocking the destruction of bone due to the action of osteoclasts, bone cells involved in breaking down bone
On the other hand, pamidronate blocks neither the addition of minerals to bone (a process called bone mineralization), nor the formation of bone.[1]
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.
|
is a trademark of HC Search Corporation.
for free.
