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CPT-11 (Irinotecan)
CPT-11 (irinotecan) is a topoisomerase I inhibitor that prevents DNA unwinding and repair, leading to DNA damage and cancer cell death.
CPT-11 (irinotecan) is a topoisomerase I inhibitor that prevents DNA unwinding and repair, leading to DNA damage and cancer cell death. Used for Metastatic colorectal cancer (first-line and second-line), Small cell lung cancer, Ovarian cancer.
At a glance
| Generic name | CPT-11 (Irinotecan) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Irinotecan |
| Sponsor | Epidemiological and Clinical Research Information Network |
| Drug class | Topoisomerase I inhibitor |
| Target | Topoisomerase I |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Irinotecan is a semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin that inhibits topoisomerase I, an enzyme essential for DNA replication and transcription. By stabilizing the topoisomerase I-DNA complex, the drug prevents religation of DNA strands, causing double-strand breaks during S-phase and triggering apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. The active metabolite SN-38 is responsible for most of the drug's cytotoxic activity.
Approved indications
- Metastatic colorectal cancer (first-line and second-line)
- Small cell lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Gastric cancer
Common side effects
- Neutropenia
- Diarrhea
- Nausea/vomiting
- Alopecia
- Anemia
- Abdominal pain
- Asthenia/fatigue
Key clinical trials
- Erlotinib Hydrochloride and Irinotecan Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors (PHASE1)
- M6620 and Irinotecan Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery (PHASE1)
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (PHASE3)
- Risk-Based Therapy in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed Liver Cancer (PHASE3)
- Combination Therapy in Cancers With Mutations in DNA Repair Genes (PHASE1)
- A Study Comparing Higher Dose Chemotherapy Over a Shorter Amount of Time to Lower Dose Chemotherapy Plus Maintenance Over a Longer Amount of Time in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Intermediate-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (IR RMS) (PHASE3)
- Combination Chemotherapy Before and After Surgery in Treating Patients With Localized Pancreatic Cancer (PHASE2)
- FOLFIRI or Modified FOLFIRI and Veliparib as Second Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- CPT-11 (Irinotecan) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- CPT-11 (Irinotecan) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Epidemiological and Clinical Research Information Network portfolio CI