Uses

For the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, also used in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of extensive small cell lung cancer.

How it works

Irinotecan inhibits the action of topoisomerase I. Irinotecan prevents religation of the DNA strand by binding to topoisomerase I-DNA complex. The formation of this ternary complex interferes with the moving replication fork, which induces replication arrest and lethal double-stranded breaks in DNA. As a result, DNA damage is not efficiently repaired and apoptosis (programmed cell death) occurs.

Common side effects

infections and alopecia., anaemia, nausea, vomiting constipation, asthenia, Diarrhoea, thrombocytopenia, fever, neutropenia, acute cholinergic syndrome