Topotecan hydrochloride

Topotecan hydrochloride (trade name Hycamtin) is a potent antineoplastic agent. It is a water soluble analog of the alkaloid camptothecin that potently inhibits DNA topoisomerase I. Topotecan hydrochloride induces rapid apoptotic death in human B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells with IC50 values of 33 nM and 0.28 μM, respectively. Topotecan improves survival in three mouse models of poor prognosis ALL and downregulates B-Myb and MycN expression in neuroblastoma cells. Topotecan demonstrates a broad spectrum of antitumor activity against a variety of other tumors including ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, neuroblastoma, brainstem glioma, and Ewing’s sarcoma.