How is Nilotinib Administered?
Nilotinib comes as a capsule, which is taken by mouth, usually twice a day. Take it on an empty stomach. Do not eat for 2 hours before and 1 hour after each dose.
What is it Used For?
Nilotinib treats CML (chronic myeloid leukemia). It may be used for other leukemias or conditions when your doctor feels it may be beneficial.
How Does it Work?
Nilotinib is a type of targeted therapy, rather than traditional chemotherapy. Specifically, it is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).
Cancer cells are abnormal cells that multiply without control. Traditional chemotherapy agents identify cancer cells by this rapid multiplication — and then attack those cells. Unfortunately, it also attacks normal cells that multiply quickly. Targeted therapy identifies other differences between normal cells and cancer cells, and then uses that difference to attack the cancer cells, sparing the normal cells.
Nilotinib works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply.