camptothecins

camp·to·the·cins

(kamp'tō-thek'inz), 1. Antitumor agents acting as topoisomerase inhibitors; include irinotecan and topotecan. 2. A semisynthetic drug derived from camptothecin.

camptothecins

A new class of cytotoxic anticancer drugs based on the plant alkaloid camptothecin found in the wood, bark and fruit of the tree Camptotheca acuminata . Camptopthecins attack the enzyme TOPOISOMERASE. The class includes the drugs TOPOTECAN and IRINOTECAN both of which are showing promising results in the treatment of small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer.