Is Xalkori the same as Opdivo or Keytruda?
Xalkori is not the same as Opdivo or Keytruda, but all three are prescription drugs used to treat serious cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or lymphoma (a type of blood cancer). Xalkori is an oral medicine, but Opdivo and Keytruda are given as intravenous (IV) infusions.
- Xalkori is an oral medicine used to treat three types of cancers with genetic mutations: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a type of blood cancer, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT), a type of solid tumor that may occur in the lungs, abdomen or pelvis area.
- Opdivo and Keytruda are both used to treat many different types of cancers, from serious skin cancer, to lung cancer, to blood cancers like lymphoma. Both are given as an infusion into your vein by a healthcare provider.
Xalkori (generic name: crizotinib) is considered a targeted drug therapy known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It kills cancer cells by targeting a specific area in the cell that leads to the cancer.
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) are biologic medicines called immune checkpoint inhibitors. They work in cancer by helping your own immune system to fight the cancer.
References
- Xalkori (crizotinib) prescribing information. Sept 2023. Pfizer Inc. New York, NY. Accessed Sept. 18, 2023 at http://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=676
Read next
How long does Opdivo prolong life and what’s its success rate?
Opdivo (nivolumab) is an immunotherapy used to treat a wide variety of cancer types. How long treatment with this monoclonal antibody prolongs or extends life depends on the type and stage of cancer it is used to treat and other factors. Continue reading
What are monoclonal antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are man-made proteins that mimic the natural antibodies produced by our immune systems. Monoclonal antibodies can be formulated into medicines to treat various types of illnesses, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Continue reading
How long does Opdivo take to work and how do you know if it's working?
Results from clinical trial indicate that it can take about 2 months to see a response to treatment with Opdivo, but some patients will respond more quickly and others will take longer.
Your doctor will order periodic tests, such as CT (computed tomography) and PET (positron emission tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see if you are responding to treatment. Continue reading
Related medical questions
- What is the difference between Opdivo and Keytruda?
- Pembrolizumab vs. nivolumab: How do they compare?
- How long does Opdivo stay in your system?
- How effective are Opdivo and Yervoy when taken together?
- What happens when you stop taking Opdivo for melanoma?
- Is Opdivo a chemotherapy or immunotherapy drug?
- How are Opdivo and Yervoy administered?
- Is Opdivo approved for treating bladder cancer?
- What are biologic drugs and how do they work?
- How long does it take for Keytruda to work?
- What is the success rate of Keytruda?
- Can you take prednisone with Keytruda?
- Is Keytruda covered by Medicare / Medicaid?
- How are Inlyta and Keytruda used in kidney cancer?
- How is pembrolizumab (Keytruda) administered?
- Is lenvatinib / pembrolizumab used in endometrial cancer?
- How effective is Xalkori?
- Will I need to use Xalkori long term?
- How long does it take for Xalkori to work?
- How to pronounce Xalkori?
- Do I need any blood tests while taking Xalkori?
- What cancers are treated with Xalkori?