Topotecan
Definition
Topotecan is a drug used to treat certain types of cancer. Topotecan is available under the trade name Hycamtin, and may also be referred to as topotecan hydrochloride or topotecan HCl.
Purpose
Topotecan is an antineoplastic agent used to treat small cell lung cancer, and certain cancers of the ovary.
Description
Topotecan is a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring compound camptothecin. Camptothecin belongs to a group of chemicals called alkaloids, and is extracted from plants such as Camptotheca acuminata. Captothecin was initially investigated as a chemotherapeutic agent due to its anti-cancer activity in laboratory studies. The chemical structure and biological...
[The entire page is 866 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
