Irinotecan hydrochloride (Campto) is an anti-cancer drug that is mainly used to treat bowel cancer, usually in combination with other anti-cancer drugs. It works by inhibiting the enzyme topoisomerase 1. Irinotecan is given by infusion into a vein.

A recent study has shown that irinotecan can also be used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma in patients with advanced HIV disease who are taking antiretroviral therapy. Although Kaposi’s sarcoma is usually prevented by antiretroviral therapy, a few cases of relapse do occur in patients taking anti-HIV drugs. In this study, nine of eleven patients with relapsing Kaposi’s sarcoma showed a partial remission over eleven months of follow-up^[1]. Larger studies are planned.

Irinotecan can cause severe diarrhoea, which can cause dehydration, as well as blood disorders such as low levels of white blood cells called leukocytes, anaemia and low platelet levels. The diarrhoea can be managed using anti-diarrhoea tablets.