Nivolumab
RxNorm 1597876

Nivolumab Injection

Nivolumab injection is used: alone or in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) to treat certain types of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, to treat and prevent the return of a certain type of melanoma after surgery to remove it and any affected tissue and lymph nodes, in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) to treat a certain type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer; NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body, in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) and platinum chemotherapy to treat a certain type of NSCLC that has returned or has spread to other parts of the body, alone to treat a certain type of NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body and has worsened either during or after treatment with platinum chemotherapy medications, to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the kidneys) that worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications, in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) or with cabozantinib (Cabometryx, Cometriq) to treat advanced RCC in people who have not been treated with other chemotherapy medications, to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) in adults who worsened or did not respond to autologous stem cell transplant (procedure in which certain blood cells are removed from the body and then returned to the body after chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment) and brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) treatment or at least three other treatments including the stem cell transplant, to treat a certain type of head and neck cancer that keeps coming back or that has spread to other parts of the body or worsened during or after treatment with other chemotherapy medications, to treat urothelial cancer (cancer of the lining of the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract) that has spread to other parts of the body and has worsened during or after treatment with other chemotherapy medications, alone or in combination with ipilimumab to treat a certain type of colorectal cancer (cancer that begins in the large intestine) in adults and children 12 years of age and older that has spread to other parts of the body and has worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications, alone or in combination with ipilimumab to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer) in people who were previously treated with sorafenib (Nexafar), to treat a certain type of esophageal cancer (cancer of the tube that connects your throat to your stomach) that has spread to other parts of the body, has worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications, or cannot be treated with surgery. It can also be used in combination with fluorouracil and a platinum-containing chemotherapy medication (cisplatin, carboplatin) to treat another type of esophageal cancer that keeps coming back or has spread to other parts of the body, in combination with fluorouracil and a platinum-containing chemotherapy medication (cisplatin, carboplatin) to treat certain types of gastric cancer (cancer of the stomach) or gastroesophageal junction cancer (cancer located in the area where the stomach meets the esophagus) that has spread to other parts of the body, and in combination with ipilimumab to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma (a type of cancer that affects the inside lining of the lungs and chest cavity) in adults that cannot be removed by surgery. Nivolumab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by helping your immune system to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
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Cancer Chemotherapy

Normally, your cells grow and die in a controlled way. Cancer cells keep growing without control. Chemotherapy is drug therapy for cancer. It works by killing the cancer cells, stopping them from spreading, or slowing their growth. However, it can also harm healthy cells, which causes side effects.

You may have a lot of side effects, some, or none at all. It depends on the type and amount of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts. Some common side effects are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, and hair loss. There are ways to prevent or control some side effects. Talk with your health care provider about how to manage them. Healthy cells usually recover after chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually go away.

Your treatment plan will depend on the cancer type, the chemotherapy drugs used, the treatment goal, and how your body responds. Chemotherapy may be given alone or with other treatments. You may get treatment every day, every week, or every month. You may have breaks between treatments so that your body has a chance to build new healthy cells. You might take the drugs by mouth, in a shot, as a cream, or intravenously (by IV).

NIH: National Cancer Institute

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