Diarrhea / Diarrhoea & Irinotecan

The incidence of irinotecan-induced diarrhea varies between 60-90%, by which the incidence of severe diarrhea is 20-40%.
Mego et al. 2023 Front Oncol 13: 1168654

The dose-limiting side effect of the common colon cancer chemotherapeutic Irinotecan is severe Diarrhea / Diarrhoea caused by symbiotic bacterial beta-glucuronidases that reactivate the drug in the gut
Wallace et al. 2010 Science 330: 831–835

Irinotecan-induced diarrhea has been linked to an increase in the expression of colonic beta-glucuronidase, and also increases in beta-glucuronidase-encoding microorganisms.
Stringer et al. 2008 Cancer Biol Ther. 7: 1919-25

Irinotecan causes both early and late diarrhea, the latter possibly caused in part by changes in the gut microbiota
Stringer et al. 2007 Exp Biol Med 232: 96-106

Irinotecan hydrochloride is a camptothecin derivative used as an antitumor agent, and it is known to cause severe forms of diarrhea in clinical settings.
Takasuna et al. 1996 Cancer Res 56: 3752-7

see also:
Adverse Events / Safety & Irinotecan