sn-38

SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin) is the biologically active metabolite of the camptothecin analog irinotecan. It is a potent inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I, which leads to double-strand DNA breaks and apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. SN-38 is approximately 100 to 1000 times more potent than its prodrug irinotecan. Due to its poor solubility and high toxicity when administered systemically, various delivery platforms are being developed to utilize SN-38 directly. One such platform is CEB-01, developed by Cebiotex, which is a biocompatible PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) nanofiber membrane designed for local implantation during surgery to provide sustained release of SN-38 at the tumor site, specifically for indications like pancreatic cancer and soft tissue sarcoma.

Other names

7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin