Currently in China, nituzumab is not approved for esophageal cancer, and is only applicable to nasopharyngeal cancer in the middle to late stages.
Nituzumab is a monoclonal antibody drug targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Nituzumab binds to EGFR thus blocking its effect of promoting tumor cell growth. After binding to the receptor, the drug promotes apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and other means.
The currently approved indications in China are for the treatment of stage III or IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma with positive EGFR expression in combination with radiotherapy.
The main adverse reactions of nituzumab are mild fever, decreased blood pressure, nausea, dizziness and rash.
Patients with esophageal cancer should use antitumor drugs correctly under the guidance of oncologists.