irinotecan hydrochloride

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-004510",
  "term": "irinotecan hydrochloride",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "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. Irinotecan hydrochloride 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. Irinotecan is the active ingredient of irinotecan hydrochloride. Also called Camptosar and CPT 11.",
    "The hydrochloride salt of a semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin, a cytotoxic, quinoline-based alkaloid extracted from the Asian tree Camptotheca acuminata. Irinotecan, a prodrug, is converted to a biologically active metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38) by a carboxylesterase-converting enzyme. One thousand-fold more potent than its parent compound irinotecan, SN-38 inhibits topoisomerase I activity by stabilizing the cleavable complex between topoisomerase I and DNA, resulting in DNA breaks that inhibit DNA replication and trigger apoptotic cell death. Because ongoing DNA synthesis is necessary for irinotecan to exert its cytotoxic effects, it is classified as an S-phase-specific agent."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "Camptosar",
    "CPT 11",
    "irinotecan",
    "camptothecin-11",
    "irinotecan HCl",
    "irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate",
    "irinotecan monohydrochloride trihydrate"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/irinotecan-hydrochloride/"
}