Gallium nitrate (brand name Ganite) is a drug that is used to treat hyper-calcemia, or too much calcium in the blood. Ganite exerts a hypocalcemic effect by inhibiting calcium resorption from bone, possibly by reducing increased bone turnover. It was shown, that gallium favorably altered the mineral properties to enhance hydroxyapatite crystallization and reduced mineral solubility. The drug also acted on the cellular components of bone to reduce bone resorption by decreasing acid secretion by osteoclasts. Nevertheless, ganite was withdrawn from sale, although the reasons was not the safety or effectiveness. Gallium nitrate inhibits the growth of various lymphoma cell lines in vitro and exhibits antitumor activity in patients with lymphoma. Gallium binds avidly to the iron transport protein transferrin. Transferrin-gallium complexes preferentially target cells that express transferrin receptors on their surface. Expression of transferrin receptors is particularly high on lymphoma cells. Cellular uptake of the gallium-transferrin complex leads to inhibition of cellular proliferation primarily via disruption of iron transport and homeostasis and blockade of ribonucleotide reductase. In phase II of clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma, the antitumor activity of gallium nitrate is similar to, or better than, that of other commonly used chemotherapeutic agents.

Ferrous citrate Fe 59 is indicated, by intravenous administration, to determine various parameters of the kinetics of iron metabolism, including plasma iron clearance, plasma iron turnover rate, and the utilization of iron in new red blood cells. The values of serum iron obtained from these studies provide diagnostic information in patients with anemias. Ferrous citrate Fe 59 is also useful to assess the role of the spleen in red blood cell production and destruction, and thus to help determine the advisability of splenectomy. Also, organ uptake measurements are used to measure the sites of red cell production (or lack thereof) in extramedullary erythropoiesis in myeloproliferative disorders. Iron from ferrous citrate is bound to plasma protein (transferrin) and carried to the blood-forming organs where it is utilized to form hemoglobin or is deposited in the reticuloendothelial cells of the liver and spleen. The amount of radioactive iron absorbed, transported, stored, utilized, and excreted can then be measured by the periodic collection of blood specimens and external counting.