Monoclonal antibody treatment for secondary liver cancer

Monoclonal antibodies are drugs that recognise certain proteins (called receptors) on the surface of cancer cells. They lock onto the receptor, and can destroy cancer cells in different ways depending on the drug. Some stop the formation of new blood vessels while others may trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cell.

Some cancers which spread to the liver can be treated with monoclonal antibodies. Trastuzumab (Herceptin®)| can be used to treat breast cancer| which has spread to the liver.

Bevacizumab (Avastin®)| or cetuximab (Erbitux®)| is sometimes used to treat bowel cancer which has spread to the liver.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body that was set up by the government. NICE assesses medicines and treatments and gives guidance to doctors on how they should be used in the NHS in England and Wales. The equivalent body in Scotland is the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

Both NICE and the SMC have not approved the use of bevacizumab or cetuximab for the treatment of bowel cancer in cases where it has spread.