Synthesis and Pharmacology of New Camptothecin Drugs

Russell   W.   Driver; Li-Xi      Yang

doi:10.2174/1389557053765547

Abstract

Camptothecin (CPT) drugs exhibit antineoplastic activity against colorectal, breast, lung and ovarian cancers. This review briefly summarizes the pharmacology of CPT drugs, examines four strategies and methods for the synthesis of camptothecins, and finally discusses homocamptothecins and silatecans, two new classes of CPT analog.

Keywords: camptothecin, homocamptothecin, silatecan, pharmacology, synthesis