Catumaxomab for treating malignant ascites in epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive carcinomas

Catumaxomab is currently in development for the treatment of malignant ascites (a build-up of fluid in the abdomen) caused by cancers that are EpCAM-positive (meaning that the cancer cells have a molecule on their surface called epithelial cellular adhesion molecule). Catumaxomab is used in patients who cannot have any further cancer treatment. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and breathlessness, which can have a detrimental impact on physical and mental health along with a reduction in overall quality of life. Standard-of-care for malignant ascites is a medical procedure, called paracenteses, in which a tube drains the fluid. Patients with large-volume ascites often have limited mobility and can negatively affect quality of life.