celecoxib + erlotinib + methotrexate + nivolumab

celecoxib + erlotinib + methotrexate + nivolumab (commonly referred to as the TMC-I regimen) is an innovative, low-cost combination therapy developed by the Tata Memorial Centre in India for the treatment of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly oral cavity cancers. The regimen combines triple oral metronomic chemotherapy (consisting of the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib, the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, and the folate antimetabolite methotrexate) with ultra-low-dose intravenous immunotherapy (the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab). By administering frequent, low doses of these agents, the regimen aims to minimize toxicities and lower treatment costs while maintaining therapeutic efficacy, making it a highly accessible salvage or palliative option in resource-limited settings.

Other names

TMC-ITMC-I regimentriple oral metronomic chemotherapy + low-dose immunotherapytriple oral metronomic chemotherapy + ultra-low-dose immunotherapytriple oral metronomic chemotherapy with low-dose immunotherapytriple oral metronomic chemotherapy with ultra-low-dose immunotherapyultra-low-dose immunotherapy plus oral metronomic chemotherapyultra-low-dose immunotherapy plus triple oral metronomic chemotherapy