RESUMO
Irinotecan was a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for treating colorectal cancer recurrence and deterioration. Despite its good efficacy, gastrointestinal toxicities such as delayed-onset diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting have severely restrained its clinical application. Recent studies have suggested that the gastrointestinal toxicities of irinotecan were closely related to its metabolism in microbiota-gut-liver axis and the associated bile acid and tryptophan metabolic disturbance. Therefore, this review was mainly focused on the relationship between the disturbed metabolism of endogenous and gastrointestinal toxicities of irinotecan. What’s more, in order to provide reference for further study and development of related drugs, the effect of Chinese materia medica in intervention and treatment of irinotecan-induced gastrointestinal toxicity have also been discussed.