title: Cetuximab: an IgG(1) monoclonal antibody for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing tumours.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an essential role in normal cell growth and differentiation and in the survival of healthy and cancerous cells. EGFR expression is a common feature of non-haematological malignancies and is associated with poor clinical prognosis. Cetuximab is an IgG(1) monoclonal antibody that blocks EGFR activation. It has efficacy alone, and in combination with irinotecan, in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed on irinotecan-containing therapy. It has been approved for use in combination with irinotecan in both Switzerland and the US and as monotherapy in the US. Cetuximab also has efficacy in cancers of the head and neck and non-small cell lung cancer. Cetuximab is well-tolerated and does not exacerbate the side effects of co-administered cytotoxic chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: St-Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Av Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. humblet@onco.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Humblet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000379:methods; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000077146:Irinotecan; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002166:Camptothecin