Solid oral dosage form of irinotecan for the treatment of cancer

1. A method of treating cancers responsive to inhibition of topoisomerase I activity in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administration of an oral solid composition comprising a compound of formula I

as a free base, and a saturated or unsaturated medium or long chain fatty acid containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of poloxamer, Vitamin E Polyethylene Glycol Succinate, Lauroyl polyoxylglycerides, Polysorbate 80, Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, Polyoxyl 35 castor oil, Caprylocaproyl macrogolglycerides, Polyoxyl 15 Hydroxystearate, and Polyoxyethylene 10 Oleoyl Ether in an amount effective to treat said cancer in said mammal, and wherein the compound of formula I is present in a concentration from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the compound based on 100% total weight of the composition without an enteric coating.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered daily or every second day for at least 5 doses of 5 mg/m 2 to 200 mg/m 2 within a treatment cycle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of metastatic colorectal carcinoma, metastatic breast cancer (mBC), Non-small cellular lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancer indication responsive to irinotecan antitumor activity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the oral solid composition further comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the saturated or unsaturated medium or long chain fatty acid contains from 8 to 20 carbon atoms.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the saturated or unsaturated long chain fatty acid contains from 16 to 18 carbon atoms.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered once or twice daily.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oral composition reduces the immunosuppressing side effects of irinotecan cancer treatment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human patient having a cancer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid oral composition is a tablet or capsule.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combination treatment with other anti-cancer drugs.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said anti-cancer drug is 5-Fluorouracil or prodrugs thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said prodrug is Capecitabine.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid composition is coated with an enteric coating.

15. A method of treating cancers responsive to inhibition of topoisomerase I activity in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administration of an oral solid composition comprising a compound of formula I

as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and a PEG, and a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of poloxamer, Vitamin E Polyethylene Glycol Succinate, Lauroyl polyoxylglycerides, Polysorbate 80, Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, Polyoxyl 35 castor oil, Caprylocaproyl macrogolglycerides, Polyoxyl 15 Hydroxystearate, and Polyoxyethylene 10 Oleoyl Ether in an amount effective to treat said cancer in said mammal, and wherein the compound of formula I is present in a concentration from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the compound based on 100% total weight of the composition without an enteric coating, and wherein the compound (I) is present in an amount from about 1 to about 100 mg.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a hydrochloride salt.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is a hydrochloride trihydrate salt.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the solid composition is coated with an enteric coating.

19. A method of treating cancers responsive to inhibition of topoisomerase I activity in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administration of an oral solid composition comprising a compound of formula I

as a free base, and a saturated or unsaturated medium or long chain fatty acid containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of poloxamer, Vitamin E Polyethylene Glycol Succinate, Lauroyl polyoxylglycerides, Polysorbate 80, Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, Polyoxyl 35 castor oil, Caprylocaproyl macrogolglycerides, Polyoxyl 15 Hydroxystearate, and Polyoxyethylene 10 Oleoyl Ether, in an amount effective to treat said cancer in said mammal, and wherein the compound of formula I is present in a concentration from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the compound based on 100% total weight of the composition without an enteric coating; and wherein the solid composition exhibit a bioavailability as measured by area under the curve (AUC) of at least 8% of that observed following intravenous administration of an equivalent dosage of irinotecan when measured under the same conditions.