Side Effects Of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

While surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy remain important treatment options for colon cancer monoclonal antibody therapy is becoming more widely available for use.

Side effects of monoclonal antibody therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are biological drugs used to treat cancers certain types of arthritis lupus ms and ibd. Monoclonal antibodies can cause side effects which can differ from person to person. However administration of mabs carries the risk of immune reactions such as acute anaphylaxis serum sickness and. However monoclonal antibody treatment for cancer may cause side effects some of which though rare can be very serious.

Talk to your doctor about what side effects are associated with the particular drug you re receiving. Monoclonal antibodies and their side effects one way the body s immune system attacks foreign substances is by making large numbers of antibodies. Your doctor will discuss any potential side effects with you before you start treatment. Eight monoclonal antibodies are approved by the food and drug administration for the treatment of cancer in the united states.

Side effects are itching rash chills cough and constipation and may include hepatitis cancer and congestive heart failure. The ones you may have and how they make you feel will depend on many factors such as how healthy you are before treatment your type of cancer how advanced it is the type of monoclonal antibody you are receiving and the dose. Some people may have a reaction e g. The most common monoclonal antibody therapies for managing colon cancer are bevacizumab avastin cetuximab erbitux and.

An antibody is a protein that sticks to a specific protein called an antigen. Monoclonal antibodies mabs are now established as targeted therapies for malignancies transplant rejection autoimmune and infectious diseases as well as a range of new indications. Side effects of monoclonal antibody therapy. Oncology nurses are expected to be familiar with these agents their indications and their adverse effects to provide appropriate care and symptom management to patients.

Nausea skin rashes and itching during or several hours after having these drugs. Monoclonal antibodies are increasingly becoming a standard part of clinical cancer treatment.