This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Alemtuzumab (trade name: MabCampath, Lemtrada, Campath) a biological therapy generally used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). It is usually used for multiple sclerosis in paediatrics.
Alemtuzumab was approved by the FDA in 2001. It is a monoclonal antibody a new type of drug which recognises certain proteins that are found on the surface of some types of cancer cells. Once the monoclonal antibody recognises the protein it attaches itself to it, which is thought to then trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells and cause the cells to destroy themselves. MabCampath works on to a protein called CD52. This is found on the surface of certain white blood cells (lymphocytes), including those affected by leukaemia. It is given intravenously and usually after chemotherapy has failed or if the CCL has returned.
Recently, in 2018 the FDA warned that patients with multiple sclerosis who received Lemtrada may result in serious adverse reactions such as stroke and blood vessel wall tears commonly occurring within 1 day of the treatment.
Dosage for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Dosage can depend on other factors such as weight and health
Dosage for Multiple Sclerosis
- First treatment course: 12 mg/day for 5 consecutive days.
- Second treatment course: Have this 12 months after the first treatment, 12 mg/day for 3 consecutive days.
- Following the second treatment, 12 mg/day IV for 3 consecutive days, 12 months after the last dose.
Common side effects can include some initial allergic reaction; later reactions such as lowered resistance to infection, flu-like symptoms, nausea; low blood pressure, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue and urinary tract and upper respiratory tract infections.
Precautions:
Autoimmunity (Hepatitis and Cytopenia), Thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anaemia.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects