Erbitux chemotherapy is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer i.e. cancer spread beyond the colon and rectum that over expresses the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

It is also used in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Erbitux is a targeted therapy. It is classified as a monoclonal antibody and signal transduction inhibitor as it binds to epidermal growth factor receptors. The generic name for erbitux is cetuximab.

The Way Erbitux Chemotherapy Works

Erbitux is administered intravenously. The dosage of drug is decided by the doctor based on the patient’s height, weight, infusion reactions, overall health, the type and stage of the cancer. Erbitux is a targeted therapy that targets and this drug binds to the epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) on the cellular surface. EGFR is present on the surface of many normal and cancer cells. Erbitux blocks a pathway that helps the cell division process by binding to these receptors. This blockage inhibits cell growth and leads to apoptosis or programmed cell death.

Targeted therapy is identifies certain features of cells i.e. between the normal cells and the cancer cells. Hence, this prevents the damage to healthy cells while the cancer cells are destroyed. This leads to fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy. Each type of targeted therapy works differently but ultimately all of them interfere with the cell division process at some phase or the other. They inhibit the ability of the cancer cell to divide, multiply and repair.

Side Effects of Erbitux Therapy

Erbitux chemotherapy causes side effects like any other drug although they are minimal. Some of the common side effects are-

• Rash or acne
• Fatigue and malaise
• Fever
• Low magnesium levels in blood

Some of the relatively rare side effects of erbitux chemotherapy are-

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Nail defects in fingers and toes
• Mouth sores
• Swelling on skin
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Itching
• Low red blood cell count that leads to anemia
• Cough

Erbitux creates infusion reactions in some people at an initial stage. They consist of chills, fever and shortness of breath. Rarely this infusion can cause difficulty in breathing, itching and low blood pressure. However, there are medications available for most of these conditions and the doctor usually prescribes them prior to the treatment so that these reactions can be avoided.

Precautions for Erbitux Chemotherapy

• Inform your doctor about any other OTC medications, prescribed medications, herbal remedies, vitamins, nutritional supplements, alternative therapies, etc you are taking or have taken in the past.
• Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin without consulting your doctor.
• Do not get yourself immunized against a particular disease with any live vaccine without your doctor’s approval.
• Inform your doctor in case you or your partner is pregnant, a lactating mother or plan to conceive a baby as this drug is generally considered harmful for a developing fetus.
• Do not breast-feed while taking erbitux chemotherapy and for the next 60 days after the last dose as this drug could enter the breast milk and be harmful for the baby.

Erbitux chemotherapy is also used in combination with other drugs and is under clinical research for some other types of cancers. It is under trials along with chemotherapy to treat liver metastases from colorectal cancer, which till date has shown varied results. A combination of cisplatin, vinorelbine with Erbitux therapy has also been tried in treating metastatic lung cancer and has shown significant improvement.