Is Adcetris a chemotherapy drug?
Adcetris is a targeted drug used to treat cancer but is not a traditional chemotherapy. Adcetris is made up of 3 parts:
- an antibody that finds the protein CD30 on cancer cells
- an anticancer (chemotherapy) drug (that causes cell death)
- a “linker”, which attaches the cancer drug to the antibody so the drug can be released inside the cancer cell.
Adcetris combines the antibody and cancer drug, allowing the antibody to direct the drug to a target on lymphoma cancer cells known as CD30. The cancer drug is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), which inhibits microtubule polymerization and leads to cell death.
What type of drug is Adcetris?
Adcetris is known as a CD30-directed Antibody Drug conjugate (ADC). It belongs to a group of targeted drug therapies called monoclonal antibodies.
What does Adcetris treat?
Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a prescription drug used in adults and children to treat different types of blood cancers (lymphomas). Adcetris is used to treat certain forms of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and T-cell lymphomas (a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
It is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein. Specifically Adcetris treats:
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma:
- Adults with previously untreated Stage 3 or 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine.
- Adults with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) at high risk of relapse (coming back) or progression (getting worse) after a stem cell transplant.
- Adults with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) after failure of a stem cell transplant OR after failure of treatment with at least 2 chemotherapy regimens (if you are not a stem cell transplant candidate).
- Previously untreated high risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in pediatric patients 2 years and older, in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide.
Certain types of B-cell lymphoma in adults:
- Relapsed (where the cancer has either returned after initial treatment) or refractory (has not responded to initial treatment) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) NOS (not otherwise specified), DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma, or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL), after two or more lines of systemic therapy who are not eligible for auto-HSCT or CAR T-cell therapy, in combination with lenalidomide and a rituximab product.
Certain types of T-cell lymphoma in adults:
- Systemic (throughout the body) anaplastic large cell lymphoma or other untreated peripheral T-cell lymphomas, in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone.
- Systemic primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) who have received prior systemic therapy.
- Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma or CD30- expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) in patients who have been treated with drug therapy that affects the whole body.
This is not all the information you need to know about Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full prouct information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
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References
- Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) prescribing information. Revised 2/2025. Accessed Feb 22, 2025 at https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=20629
- Bradley AM, Devine M, DeRemer D. Brentuximab vedotin: an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013 Apr 1;70(7):589-97. doi: 10.2146/ajhp110608. PMID: 23515511.
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Drug information
- Adcetris Information for Consumers
- Adcetris prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Adcetris (detailed)
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