BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Etoposide is an antineoplastic agent and an epipodophyllotoxin. Chemically it derives from podophyllotoxin, a toxin found in the American Mayapple.

CLINICAL USE

Used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of refractory testicular tumors and as first line treatment in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Also used to treat other malignancies such as lymphoma, non-lymphocytic leukemia, and glioblastoma multiforme.

Reducing blood loss and the need for blood transfusions in patients undergoing certain types of heart surgery.

MODE OF ACTION

Etoposide inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis at the premitotic stage of cell division. Etoposide is cell cycle dependent and phase specific, affecting mainly the S and G2 phases of cell division.

STRUCTURE: