Chemotherapy Drugs

Camptothecin-11 ( CPT11)
Irinotecan
Drug type: Irinotecan is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. This medication is classified as a "plant alkaloid" and "topoisomerase I inhibitor
read more at http://www.chemocare.com/bio/camptothecin.asp

What this drug is used for:
Metastatic colon or rectal cancer
This medication is given by infusion through a vein (intravenously, IV).

Irinotecan belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids are made from plants. The vinca alkaloids are made from the periwinkle plant (catharanthus rosea). The taxanes are made from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (taxus). The vinca alkaloids and taxanes are also known as antimicrotubule agents. The podophyllotoxins are derived from the May apple plant. Camptothecan analogs are derived from the Asian "Happy Tree" (Camptotheca acuminata). Podophyllotoxins and camptothecan analogs are also known as topoisomerase inhibitors. The plant alkaloids are cell-cycle specific. This means they attack the cells during various phases of division.
Topoisomerase inhibitors (such as ironotecan) are drugs that interfere with the action of topoisomerase enzymes (topoisomerase I and II). Topoisomerase enzymes control the manipulation of the structure of DNA necessary for replication.


XELODA
Treatment of Advanced Breast and Colorectal Cancers

In patients with Colorectal Cancer, XELODA (capecitabine) is used to treat
Dukes' C (Stage III) colon cancer after surgery (called "adjuvant therapy")
Cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic colorectal cancer. You should know that in studies other medicines showed improved survival when they were taken together with 5-FU and leucovorin. In studies with XELODA, XELODA was no worse than 5-FU and leucovorin taken together. But it did not improve survival compared to these 2 medicines.

How XELODA (capecitabine) WorksThe generic name for XELODA is capecitabine ("CAPE-site-ah-bean"). XELODA is a medicine you take by mouth (orally). XELODA is changed in the body to a substance called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In some patients with colon, rectum, or breast cancer, 5-FU stops cancer cells from growing and decreases the size of the tumor.

XELODA is a drug taken by mouth (orally) and then converted by your body into an effective anti-cancer drug. Here's what happens after you swallow a XELODA Tablet:
XELODA travels through the digestive system into the bloodstream.
XELODA reaches the site of the cancerous cells.
Your body produces a naturally-occurring enzyme called thymidine phosphorylase, or TP. But cancerous cells have higher levels of TP than healthy cells do.
Inside the tumor XELODA is transformed into 5-FU—an effective cancer-fighting drug

read more here http://www.xeloda.com/default.aspx