7-Ethyl-10-Hydroxycamptothecin is a member of the class of pyranoindolizinoquinolines that is (4S)-pyrano[3',4':6,7]indolizino[1,2-b]quinoline-3,14-dione bearing two additional ethyl substituents at positions 4 and 11 as well as two additional hydroxy substituents at positions 4 and 9. It is the active metabolite of irinotecan and is ~1000 times more active than irinotecan itself. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent, a drug metabolite, an EC 5.99.1.2 (DNA topoisomerase) inhibitor and an apoptosis inducer. 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin shows cytotoxicity against breast cancer, it efficiently target-bind to the colon and lungs of mice.

Rubitecan is a pyranoindolizinoquinoline that is camptothecin in which the hydrogen at position 9 has been replaced by a nitro group. It is a prodrug for 9-aminocamptothecin. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent, a prodrug and an EC 5.99.1.2 (DNA topoisomerase) inhibitor. It is a delta-lactone, a tertiary alcohol, a C-nitro compound, a pyranoindolizinoquinoline and a semisynthetic derivative. Rubitecan is a novel oral inhibitor of topoisomerase I in the camptothecin class. It shows antitumour activity in patients with refractory pancreatic cancer who have failed prior treatments.