This study was designed to evaluate irinotecan (CPT-11) disposition and
pharmacodynamics in the presence and absence of the broad-spectrum
antibiotic neomycin. Seven evaluable cancer patients experiencing diarrhea
graded > or =2 after receiving CPT-11 alone (350 mg/m(2) i.v. once every 3
weeks) received the same dose combined with oral neomycin at 1000 mg three
times per day (days -2 to 5) in the second course. Neomycin had no effect
on the systemic exposure of CPT-11 and its major metabolites (P > or =
0.22). However, it changed fecal beta-glucuronidase activity from 7.03 +/-
1.76 microg/h/mg (phenolphthalein assay) to undetectable levels and
decreased fecal concentrations of the pharmacologically active metabolite
SN-38. Although neomycin had no significant effect on hematological
toxicity (P > 0.05), diarrhea ameliorated in six of seven patients (P =
0.033). Our findings indicate that bacterial beta-glucuronidase plays a
crucial role in CPT-11-induced diarrhea without affecting enterocycling
and systemic SN-38 levels
