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This page contains brief information about ibritumomab tiuxetan and a collection of links to more information from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

US Brand Name(s):		Zevalin
FDA Approved:		Yes

Ibritumomab tiuxetan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is used in patients who have been treated with chemotherapy or with rituximab alone and have not gotten better or have had a relapse. Ibritumomab tiuxetan is combined with a radioactive substance and given with rituximab, as a type of radioimmunotherapy.

In radioimmunotherapy, radioactive monoclonal antibodies, such as radioactive ibritumomab tiuxetan, are injected into the body. They find and attach to cancer cells, and kill them, block their growth, or keep them from spreading. At the same time, the radiation is carried directly to the cancer cells. This works better than using a monoclonal antibody that is not radioactive. Also, because the radiation goes directly to the cancer cells, less radiation is absorbed by the body and there is less damage to healthy tissue.

Ibritumomab tiuxetan is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

FDA Approval for Ibritumomab Tiuxetan - Information from the FDA about the approval of this drug and the clinical trials that led to the approval.

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

Biological Therapies for Cancer: Questions and Answers (06/13/2006) - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

The Making of a Monoclonal Antibody (06/13/2006) - Information about the use of this drug to treat cancer.

Clinical Trials for Ibritumomab Tiuxetan - Check for trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry now accepting patients.

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