Irinotecan is a water soluble, semi-synthetic derivative of camptothecin (CPT) with promising activity against a range of tumour types. Irinotecan causes cell toxicity by stabilizing a ternary complex between the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase I (topo I) and double-stranded DNA, leading to single and double strand breaks.

yellow crystal,insoluble in water,its sodium salt is the water-soluble,its organic solution has blue fluorescence.Melting point: 268-270°C