What is zalutumumab?

• What zalutumumab is
• Zalutumumab in the UK
• Research into zalutumumab
• Possible side effects
• More information

Zalutumumab (pronounced zal-ooh-too-moo-mab) is also known by its brand name HuMax–EGFr. It is a new drug that researchers are testing for squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. These are cancers that develop from the flat, skin like cells (squamous cells) that line and cover the body.

Zalutumumab is a type of monoclonal antibody. A monoclonal antibody is a copy of a single human antibody. They can be mass produced in the laboratory and used for targeted cancer treatment. They recognise and find specific abnormal proteins on cancer cells.

Zalutumumab works in two ways. It targets a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Some cancer cells have many more of these receptors than normal cells. When the receptor is triggered, it sends a signal telling the cell to grow and divide into more cells. Zalutumumab blocks the receptor. So the cancer cell doesn’t get signals to grow and divide.

Zalutumumab also works by triggering the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. When zalutumumab is attached to receptors on cancer cells, it makes it easier for the immune system to find and kill them.

Zalutumumab is not licensed in the UK yet and is only available in clinical trials.

All new drugs go through a detailed research process. Firstly, research in the laboratory finds out if a potential new drug harms cancer cells in any way. Then researchers look at whether it is safe to give to people, what the dose should be, and which side effects it causes.

A phase 3 European trial looked at zalutumumab for people with squamous cell head and neck cancer whose chemotherapy was no longer working. It compared zalutumumab and best supportive care with best supportive care on its own. Best supportive care means that you have treatment to control cancer symptoms and improve your quality of life. It may include chemotherapy, steroids, and help with diet problems. The results of this trial were reported in June 2010. The cancer stopped growing for longer in people who had zalutumumab. Zalutumumab controlled the cancer in half the people having treatment compared to a quarter of those having best supportive care.

A number of other trials are looking at how well zalutumumab works and finding out more about the side effects. As well as whether zalutumumab works better when given as a single dose or in multiple doses. One trial is looking at combining zalutumumab with radiotherapy for people with locally advanced stage 3 or 4 mouth cancer or cancer of the voice box (larynx). There is information about zalutumumab trials on our clinical trials database.

Researchers are still finding out about the side effects of zalutumumab. From research so far they know it may cause

• A rash, and dry or itchy skin
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling sick
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Headache
• Swelling around the nails
• A change in the normal balance of salts in your blood

We have detailed sections about the main types of cancer and many rare cancers in our cancer types section. This is the place to go for specific treatment and research information for the type of cancer you are looking for.