Irinotecan Liposome Injection

Irinotecan liposome (Onivyde®), which received FDA approval on 22 October 2015, is used after gemcitabine-based treatment in disease spread to distant organs (metastatic), in patients with pancreatic cancer , together with fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin. Its use alone has not been approved in pancreatic cancers spread to distant organs. Irinotecan is a drug whose surface is coated with fat. Each of our cells contains structures called DNA, through which we can exhibit our living characteristics.

For cancer cells to multiply in the same way, DNA needs to be processed by molecules called Topoisomerase. Irinotecan acts on topoisomerase to prevent DNA processing, thus forcing the cancer cell to die before it can multiply. The most common side effects of this drug are diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, reduced appetite and inflammation of the oral mucosa.