Malignant ascites is a sign of advanced tumour growth and is associated with significant morbidity and a poor prognosis with a median survival time of a few months. Paracentesis is a recommended treatment for malignant ascites, but can cause complications, for example infections, injury of abdominal organs, persistent leakage of ascites, and haematoma/haemorrhage. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the use of a trifunctional bispecific antibody, catumaxomab (Removab), for the intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment of malignant ascites in April 2009.
