irinotecan

A topoisomerase-1 inhibitor and semisynthetic analogue of the natural alkaloid camptothecin, which is activated by hydrolysis in vivo to an active metabolit, SN-38, and inactivated by glucuronidation with uridine diphosphate glucoronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1). It was FDA-approved for managing colorectal carcinoma in 1994.

Adverse effects
Severe diarrhoea, possibly leading to dehydration, requiring aggressive antidiarrhoeal management with loperamide or Lomotil; immunosuppression with severe neutropaenia; functional overdose in patients who under-express UGT1A1 and cannot clear irinotecan as quickly (e.g., those with Gilbert syndrome as normal patients).

irinotecan

An anticancer drug used to treat widespread secondary cancer of the colon or rectum. A brand name is Campto.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

studied the KRAS mutation status of 113 patients with irinotecan refractory mCRC treated with cetuximab in clinical trials [30].

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab or panitumumab) and chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: the role of KRAS gene mutational status

The recommendation was for use in combination with chemotherapy and alone in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based therapy and who are intolerant to irinotecan.

KRAS mutation in colon ca blocks Cetuximab

The dose of irinotecan in the EPIC trial was 350 mg/[m.sup.2] per week for 3 weeks.

Cetuximab yields benefits in colorectal cancer

SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, is widely used by many new drug companies to develop new camptothecin derivatives.

Patent granted to ScinoPharm for production of irinotecan intermediate

Encapsulating irinotecan into a liposome developed by Terumo, the new agent will be able to sustain its effectiveness and improve its concentration in cancer tissues while reducing side effects.

Yakult Honsha, Terumo to Co-develop Liposomal Formulation of Irinotecan

We previously suggested that determination of the UGT1A1 polymorphisms before irinotecan treatment could be clinically useful and important for predicting and preventing related toxicities (1).

Rapid detection of UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms by newly developed invader assay

In 1994 AIDS Treatment News reported on a class of drugs being developed for cancer, but not for HIV, though some experts believed they should be tested as antiretrovirals (see Topotecan, CPT-11 (Irinotecan), Camptothecin, and Other Topoisomerase I Inhibitors, AIDS Treatment News #197, April 15, 1994).

New kinds of treatment

Led by Hidehiko Saito, the team examined the base sequences in blood samples taken from 108 cancer patients, including people suffering from lung cancer, who had been administered the anticancer drug irinotecan hydrochloride.

Cancer drug side effects vary with genetic pattern

ENPNewswire-August 9, 2019--Starpharma commences phase 1/2 DEP irinotecan trial

Starpharma commences phase 1/2 DEP irinotecan trial

M2 PHARMA-July 9, 2019-Ipsen and Servier Release Initial Phase 1/2 Clinical Data Evaluating Liposomal Irinotecan as an Investigational First-line Treatment for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer at ESMO 21st World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

Ipsen and Servier Release Initial Phase 1/2 Clinical Data Evaluating Liposomal Irinotecan as an Investigational First-line Treatment for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer at ESMO 21st World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

The development of the cytotoxic agents irinotecan, oxaliplatin and capecitabine and of the biological agents bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab has clearly increased the therapeutic options for patients with metastatic CRC.