Irinotecan (Camptosar)

Irinotecan is a partly manmade drug which comes from an extract of a plant that grows in Asia called Campthotheca acuminata. 

According to the American Cancer Society, Irinotecan is thought to work by blocking the action of an enzyme in cells called topoisomerese I. Cells need this enzyme to keep their DNA in the proper shape when they are dividing into 2 cells. Blocking this enzyme leads to breaks in the DNA, which leads to cell death. Because cancer cells divide faster than normal cells, they are more likely than normal cells to be affected by irinotecan.

Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments