Description and Brand Names
Drug information provided by: Micromedex
US Brand Name
- Erbitux
Descriptions
Cetuximab injection is given with radiation treatment and other medicines to treat cancer in the colon and rectal area, and cancer in the head and neck area. This medicine is usually given to patients who have already received other cancer treatments. Cetuximab should only be used in patients with metastatic (cancer that spreads to other parts of the body) colon or rectal cancer who have had a KRAS gene mutation test. This test helps the doctor decide whether the medicine will treat their cancer.
Cetuximab interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are then destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by cetuximab, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, such as a skin rash, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects do not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with cetuximab, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
This medicine will only be given by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 01, 2015
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