strontium-89

Strontium-89 is a radiopharmaceutical agent used for the relief of bone pain in patients with painful skeletal metastases, especially those from advanced prostate and breast cancer. It is administered intravenously as strontium chloride Sr 89. Strontium-89 acts as a calcium analog, selectively localizing in areas of increased osteogenesis within bone tissue—particularly metastatic lesions—where it emits beta radiation. This targeted irradiation reduces pain by damaging tumor cells within the bone while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The drug was initially FDA-approved in 1993 and has shown potential tumoricidal effects beyond palliation due to its localized radiation emission.

Brand names

Metastron

Other names

strontium chloride Sr 89strontium chloride 89