Oncology Agents

Avastin (bevacizumab)

AVASTIN is used in combination with other chemotherapy agents to treat metastatic (spreading) colorectal cancer. AVASTIN contains the active ingredient bevacizumab. AVASTIN belongs to a group of medicines known as antineoplastic (or anticancer) agents. There are many different classes of antineoplastic agents. AVASTIN belongs to a class called monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins which specially recognise and bind to other unique proteins in the body. AVASTIN selectively binds to a protein called human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is found in the lining of blood and lymph vessels in the body.

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Herceptin (trastuzumab)

HERCEPTIN belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-neoplastic (or anti-cancer) agents. There are many different classes of anti-neoplastic agents. HERCEPTIN belongs to a new class called monoclonal antibodies. HERCEPTIN is used to treat a certain type of metastatic (spreading) breast cancer. The cancer cells of some patients with metastatic breast cancer have a large amount of a protein called HER2 on the cancer cells. HERCEPTIN (trastuzumab) works by attaching itself specifically to these HER2 proteins (or receptors) on the cancer cells. This stops the growth and multiplication of these cancer cells.

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Kytril (granisetron hcl)

This medicine is used to: stop you feeling (nausea) or being sick (vomiting). It is especially useful when you need to have medical treatment that may cause you to feel or be sick, for example, chemotherapy. This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics. This medicine contains the active ingredient granisetron.

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Mabthera (rituximab)

MabThera belongs to a group of medicines known as monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins which specifically recognise and bind to another unique protein called an antigen. MabThera contains the active ingredient called rituximab.

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. MabThera works by binding to an antigen on the surface of certain white blood cells known as B lymphocytes. During the process of binding to the antigen, the abnormal growth of the B lymphocytes is stopped.  It is the abnormally growing B lymphocytes that are responsible for certain types of  non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  MabThera is used to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It may be used on its own or together with chemotherapy.

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Tarceva (erlotinib) 

TARCEVA is used for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer when initial chemotherapy has not worked.  It is also used in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

TARCEVA belongs to a group of medicines called anti-neoplastic agents which are used to treat cancer. It prevents the activity of a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This protein is known to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.

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Xeloda (capecitabine)

XELODA is used for the treatment of breast cancer. It may be prescribed alone or in combination with a chemotherapy agent. XELODA is also used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. XELODA belongs to a group of medicines called anti-neoplastic agents. Within this group, XELODA belongs to a class of medicines called pyrimidine analogues. XELODA works by killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

The medicine contained in XELODA tablets, capecitabine, is converted by the liver and cancer cells to another medicine called 5-fluorouracil, also known as 5-FU. It is 5-FU that acts to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. 

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