Irinotecan Injection

A drug used alone or with other drugs to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is used in patients whose cancer has not already been treated or whose cancer has recurred (come back) or has gotten worse after treatment with anticancer drugs that included fluorouracil. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Camptosar blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair, and it may kill cancer cells. It is a type of topoisomerase inhibitor and a type of camptothecin analog. Also called CPT 11 and irinotecan hydrochloride.

Irinotecan, sold under the brand name Camptosar among others, is a medication used to treat colon cancer, and small cell lung cancer.[4] For colon cancer it is used either alone or with fluorouracil. For small cell lung cancer it is used with cisplatin. It is given intravenously. Irinotecan was approved for medical use in the United States in 1996. It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.[6] It is made from the natural compound camptothecin which is found in the Chinese ornamental tree Camptotheca acuminata.

Its main use is in colon cancer, in particular, in combination with other chemotherapy agents. This includes the regimen FOLFIRI, which consists of infusional 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan. The regimen XELIRI consists of capecitabine and irinotecan.

It may also be used together with fluorouracil and folinic acid for pancreatic cancer following failure of initial treatment.