Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

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Community data Updated 2 months ago
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Indications

Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): Erbitux is used together with radiation therapy as initial treatment for locally or regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. It is also used together with platinum-based therapy and 5-FU as first-line treatment for patients with recurrent locoregional disease or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. On its own, Erbitux is used to treat patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck whose earlier platinum-based therapy has failed. K-Ras wild-type, EGFR-expressing colorectal cancer: Erbitux is used to treat K-Ras wild-type, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), as confirmed by FDA-approved tests for this purpose. It is given together with FOLFIRI (irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin) as first-line treatment; together with irinotecan in patients whose disease has not responded to irinotecan-based chemotherapy; and on its own in patients whose oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy has failed or who cannot tolerate irinotecan.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Cetuximab is a chimeric human/mouse monoclonal antibody produced through recombinant DNA technology. It works by binding tightly to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on cell surfaces, blocking epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other natural ligands from attaching there. By occupying the receptor in this way, it prevents the phosphorylation and activation of the kinases linked to it, which in turn slows the growth of cells and pushes them toward programmed cell death (apoptosis). It also reduces the production of matrix metalloproteinases and vascular EGF.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy: Category C. Either animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus (teratogenic, embryocidal, or otherwise) with no controlled studies in women, or studies in women and animals are simply not available. This drug should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Breastfeeding Mothers: It is not known whether Cetuximab passes into human milk. However, IgG antibodies such as Cetuximab can be excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, mothers and their doctors should decide together whether to stop breastfeeding or stop the drug, weighing how important the drug is to the mother's treatment. If breastfeeding is paused, it should not resume earlier than 60 days after the last dose of Cetuximab, based on the drug's average half-life.

⚠️ 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.

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.