Biological therapies use substances that are produced naturally in the body to destroy cancer cells. There are several types of biological therapy that may be used to treat different cancers. These include monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are drugs that recognise and bind to specific proteins (receptors) that are found in particular cancer cells or in the blood stream.

Some cancer cells have receptors known as epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). When growth factors attach to the receptor, the cancer cell is stimulated to grow and divide. The monoclonal antibodies lock onto the EGFR and may prevent the cancer cells from growing and dividing. They may also make the cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiotherapy.

The monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Erbitux®) has been recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) and the SMC (Scottish Medical Consortium) as a possible treatment for some people with laryngeal cancer. It’s approved to be used with radiotherapy for people with locally advanced (whose cancer has not spread to another area of their body) squamous cell head and neck cancer who are unable to have chemotherapy. Laryngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer.

Cetuximab is given by drip (infusion) into a vein.