Irinotecan hydrochloide, Irinotecan hydrochloride

What is this medication? Irinotecan hydrochloride is a prescription chemotherapy medication primarily used to treat patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. It is often prescribed as part of a combination therapy regimen, such as with fluorouracil and leucovorin, but it can also be used as a stand-alone treatment if previous therapies have not been effective. This drug belongs to a class of medications known as topoisomerase I inhibitors, which work by interfering with the replication of genetic material within cancer cells.

By inhibiting the topoisomerase I enzyme, this medication prevents the DNA in rapidly dividing cancer cells from repairing itself, which eventually leads to the death of those cells and slows the spread of the disease. In addition to colorectal cancer, healthcare providers may sometimes use it to treat other types of solid tumors, including small cell lung cancer. Because it is a potent chemotherapy agent, it is typically administered by a healthcare professional as an intravenous infusion in a clinical setting.