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What is Adcetris used for?

Published in Cancer Treatment 2 mins read

Adcetris, also known as brentuximab vedotin, is used to treat specific types of cancers.

Cancers Treated by Adcetris

Adcetris is primarily used to target cancerous cells, with a focus on particular lymphomas. These include:

  • Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Adcetris is used when Hodgkin's lymphoma persists after other treatments or when it returns.
  • Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (sALCL): Adcetris treats this aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, often when other treatments are ineffective.
  • Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL): This is another type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma where Adcetris has shown effectiveness.
  • Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (pcALCL): This rare lymphoma affects the skin and can be treated with Adcetris.
  • CD30-expressing Mycosis Fungoides: Adcetris is also used for this rare type of lymphoma affecting the skin.

How Adcetris Works

The medication, brentuximab vedotin, functions by:

  • Targeting CD30: Adcetris is an antibody-drug conjugate that specifically targets the CD30 protein found on the surface of certain cancerous cells.
  • Slowing or Stopping Growth: By targeting these cells, the drug slows down or stops the growth of cancer cells.

Summary Table of Adcetris Uses

Cancer Type Use Case
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Relapsed or refractory disease
Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma When other treatments are ineffective
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment for specific subtypes
Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma For this type of skin lymphoma
CD30-expressing Mycosis Fungoides Treatment for this specific skin lymphoma

Adcetris is designed to be a targeted treatment, focusing specifically on cancerous cells expressing the CD30 protein. This helps minimize harm to healthy cells in the body, compared to traditional chemotherapy.