Camptothecin

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Camptothecin is an anti-cancer agent that damages DNA, leading to the destruction of the cell. Camptothecin affects the activity of the enzyme topoisomerase I, whose normal action is to cleave, unwind, and religate DNA. When camptothecin binds to topoisomerase I, it will be able to cleave but not to religate DNA. Thereby, camptothecin causes single strand breaks in DNA.

From Camptotheca acuminata, a deciduous tree found in southern China.

Hycamtin (topotecan) and Camptosar (irinotecan or CPT-11) are camptothecin derivatives marketed as anti-cancer drugs by GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, respectively. Camptosar is indicated for colorectal cancers and is usually taken with other drugs in chemotherapy. Hycamtin is indicated for small cell lung cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy and metastatic carcinoma of the ovary following failure of initial or subsequent chemotherapy.