Erbitux

Adults:

Dosage for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. When Cetuximab is given in combination with radiation therapy, or in combination with platinum-based therapy with 5-FU, the recommended initial dose is 400 mg/m2, given as a 120-minute intravenous infusion (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min). This first dose is given one week before the start of a course of radiation therapy, or on the day platinum-based therapy with 5-FU begins. Cetuximab administration should be completed 1 hour before platinum-based therapy with 5-FU. The recommended subsequent weekly dose (all other infusions) is 250 mg/m2 infused over 60 minutes (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min). This is continued for the duration of radiation therapy (6 to 7 weeks), or, when given with platinum-based therapy with 5-FU, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cetuximab administration should be completed 1 hour before radiation therapy or platinum-based therapy with 5-FU. When Cetuximab is used as monotherapy, the recommended initial dose is 400 mg/m2 given as a 120-minute intravenous infusion (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min). The recommended subsequent weekly dose (all other infusions) is 250 mg/m2 infused over 60 minutes (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min), continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Dosage for colorectal cancer. Before starting treatment, EGFR-expression status should be determined using FDA-approved tests, and the absence of a Ras mutation should be confirmed. The recommended initial dose, whether as monotherapy or in combination with irinotecan or FOLFIRI (irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin), is 400 mg/m2 given as a 120-minute intravenous infusion (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min). Cetuximab administration should be completed 1 hour before FOLFIRI. The recommended subsequent weekly dose, whether as monotherapy or in combination with irinotecan or FOLFIRI, is 250 mg/m2 infused over 60 minutes (maximum infusion rate 10 mg/min), continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cetuximab administration should be completed 1 hour before FOLFIRI. Recommended premedication. An H1 antagonist (for example, 50 mg of diphenhydramine) should be given intravenously 30 to 60 minutes before the first dose. For subsequent Cetuximab doses, premedication should be given based on clinical judgment and on the presence and severity of any previous infusion reactions.