Indications
Ramucirumab is a human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) antagonist. It is used in several cancers. It can be given as a single agent or together with paclitaxel for advanced or metastatic gastric or gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma, when the disease has progressed on or after earlier fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy. For metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, it is combined with erlotinib as first-line treatment when the tumour has epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations. It is also combined with docetaxel for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations before they receive Ramucirumab. In metastatic colorectal cancer, Ramucirumab is given with FOLFIRI when the disease has progressed on or after earlier therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin and a fluoropyrimidine. As a single agent, it is also used for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who have an alpha-fetoprotein of ≥400 ng/mL and have already been treated with sorafenib.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Ramucirumab is a VEGFR2 antagonist. It binds specifically to VEGFR2 and stops the VEGFR ligands VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D from attaching to it. Because of this, ramucirumab blocks the activation of VEGFR2 that these ligands would normally cause, and so it also blocks the ligand-induced proliferation and migration of human endothelial cells. In an in vivo animal model, ramucirumab inhibited angiogenesis.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Going by how it works, Ramucirumab can harm the fetus when it is given to a pregnant woman. There are no data on its use in pregnant women. Animal models link angiogenesis, VEGF and VEGFR2 to key parts of female reproduction, embryo-fetal development and postnatal development. No animal studies have been done to look at the effect of the medicine on reproduction and fetal development. A pregnant woman should be told about the potential risk to the fetus. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognised pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
There is no information on whether ramucirumab is present in human milk, or on its effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Human IgG is present in human milk, but published data suggest that antibodies in breast milk do not enter the circulation of newborns and infants in substantial amounts. Because breastfed children could have serious adverse reactions, women should be advised not to breastfeed during treatment with Ramucirumab and for 2 months after the last dose.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.