Radium Ra 223 dichloride
Radium Ra 223 dichloride
Radium Ra 223 dichloride (pronunciation: RAY-dee-um Ra 223 dye-KLOR-ide), also known as radium-223 or Ra-223, is a radioactive isotope used in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that has spread to the bones.
Etymology
The term "radium" is derived from the Latin word 'radius', meaning 'ray', due to its radioactive properties. The term "dichloride" indicates the presence of two chlorine atoms in the compound. The number 223 refers to the atomic mass of the specific isotope of radium used.
Usage
Radium Ra 223 dichloride is used as a form of radiation therapy. It works by mimicking calcium (due to its similar chemical properties) and targeting areas of increased bone turnover in metastatic bone disease. Once there, it emits high-energy alpha particles that damage the DNA of nearby cancer cells, leading to their death.
Related Terms
- Radioactive: An adjective describing substances that emit radiation.
- Isotope: Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number.
- Metastatic: Referring to the process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.
- Castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): A stage of prostate cancer where the disease continues to progress despite the suppression of male hormones that fuel the growth of prostate cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy: Therapy using ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells.
- Calcium: A chemical element required as a nutrient by all known living organisms.
- Chlorine: A chemical element often in the form of a yellow-green gas under standard conditions, where it forms acidic compounds.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Radium Ra 223 dichloride
- Wikipedia's article - Radium Ra 223 dichloride
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