FDA Approves Pfizer's Camptosar

CAMPTOSAR Injection is indicated as a component of first-line therapy in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum.

CAMPTOSAR is also indicated for patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum whose disease has recurred or progressed following initial fluorouracil-based therapy.

Camptosar (irinotecan) is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Camptosar is used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum. It is usually given with other cancer medicines in a combination chemotherapy.

CAMPTOSAR is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum whose disease has recurred or progressed following 5-FU-based therapy. It is the first topoisomerase I inhibitor approved for this purpose. Topoisomerases are nuclear enzymes that prepare DNA for replication. Topoisomerase inhibitors appear to act by binding to DNA-topoisomerase complexes, leading to DNA damage when replication enzymes collide with the drug-enzyme DNA complex.

Camptosar is the brand name for irinotecan. Simply put, Camptosar kills cancer cells. It's a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of several types of cancers, including ovarian, lung, and colorectal cancer. Camptosar can be administered by itself or with other chemotherapy drugs.