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Tositumomab
Tositumomab is a drug used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is specifically approved for use in people whose cancer has returned or who have not adequately responded to other treatments. It comes as an injection that is administered intravenously by your healthcare provider. Possible side effects include low blood cell counts, infections, and lack of strength.
Tositumomab (Bexxar®) is a prescription medication approved to treat certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system). It is specifically designed for use in people whose cancer has returned or for those who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Tositumomab is a monoclonal antibody. As part of the tositumomab treatment regimen, the antibody is linked to a radioactive element (Iodine I-131). Radioactive treatment such as this is sometimes called radioimmunotherapy. Zevalin® (ibritumomab) is another example of radioimmunotherapy used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
(Click What Is Tositumomab Used For? for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Just like any medicine, tositumomab can cause side effects, some of which can be significant. Although not everyone who receives this medicine will have problems, most people will experience some type of adverse reaction to this drug.
Talk to your healthcare provider about strategies to prevent or treat side effects you may experience. He or she may give you medicines to help manage some of the reactions caused by this drug.
Common side effects of tositumomab include but are not limited to:
- Low blood cell counts
- Infection
- Lack of strength or weakness
- Fever
- Nausea.
(Click Tositumomab Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH, BCPP
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD