nimotuzumab + irinotecan

Nimotuzumab + irinotecan is an experimental anti-cancer drug combination evaluated primarily for patients with advanced solid tumors, particularly in gastrointestinal cancers such as advanced gastric cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer. Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), inhibiting ligand-induced activation and downstream proliferative and survival signaling. Irinotecan is a small molecule chemotherapeutic that inhibits DNA topoisomerase I, thereby preventing DNA replication and promoting apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. The combination aims to leverage the targeted inhibition of EGFR by nimotuzumab with the cytotoxic effects of irinotecan for additive or synergistic antitumor efficacy, especially in tumors expressing EGFR. Clinical trials have investigated the efficacy and tolerability of this combination in second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil-based therapy and in irinotecan-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer[1][2][3][5].

Other names

N-IRI