Shikari® Cetuximab ELISA Kit

Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), binding to the extracellular domain of the receptor to inhibit ligand-induced activation. Structurally, it comprises the variable antigen-binding regions of a murine antibody fused to the constant regions of a human IgG1 antibody. EGFR is overexpressed in many cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, where it contributes to enhanced tumor growth and metastatic potential. Cetuximab competitively inhibits the binding of natural ligands such as EGF and TGF-α to EGFR, thereby suppressing downstream signaling pathways responsible for cellular proliferation, survival, and metastasis.

In clinical and research settings, cetuximab serves as both a therapeutic agent and a biomarker for identifying patients likely to benefit from anti-EGFR therapies. It is commonly used in the treatment of EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The efficacy of cetuximab is often monitored using therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to ensure consistent serum concentrations, particularly in patients with variable pharmacokinetics or suspected treatment resistance. TDM helps optimize individualized dosing, assess treatment compliance, and detect anti-drug antibody formation that may impact therapeutic response.

As with other biologic therapies, cetuximab may induce an unwanted immune response, leading to the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs), including neutralizing antibodies that diminish its efficacy. The development of biosimilar cetuximab products has further expanded treatment options, although manufacturing complexities mean exact replicas cannot be produced. For this reason, close clinical monitoring and pharmacovigilance remain critical to ensure safe and effective use of cetuximab in oncology practice.

This product is manufactured in Turkey by Matriks Biotek.