Term: Declomycin

Pronunciation: (DEH-kloh-MY-sin)

Description:

A substance being studied as a way to detect bone growth in patients receiving bisphosphonates (a type of drug used to treat bone pain caused by some types of cancer) for breast cancer. It binds to newly formed bone. A biopsy is done and bone growth is measured using a special microscope. Declomycin also blocks the uptake of water by the kidney and can bind calcium in bones. It is a type of tetracycline antibiotic and a type of bone-labeling agent. Also called demeclocycline hydrochloride.