Indication: For management of refractory testicular tumors and small cell lung carcinoma. Also used to treat brain tumours, cervical cancer, hepatoma, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocity leukemia, karposi’s sarcoma, Wilm’s tumor, head and neck cancer and neuroblastoma
Pharmacology: Etoposide is an antineoplastic agent indicated in the treatment of various cancers. Etoposide is a semisynthetic derivative of the podophyllotoxins, an epipodophyllotoxin. It inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Etoposide is cell cycle dependent and phase specific, affecting mainly the S and G2 phases. Two different dose-dependent responses are seen. At high concentrations (10 µg/mL or more), lysis of cells entering mitosis is observed. At low concentrations (0.3 to 10 µg/mL), cells are inhibited from entering prophase. It does not interfere with microtubular assembly. The predominant macromolecular effect of etoposide appears to be the induction of DNA strand breaks by an interaction with DNA-topoisomerase II or the formation of free radicals.
Mechanism Of Action: Etoposide is a semisynthetic derivative of the podophyllotoxins, an epipodophyllotoxin. Etoposide inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Etoposide is cell cycle dependent and phase specific, affecting mainly the S and G2 phases
Absorption: Absorbed well, time to peak plasma concentration is 1-1.5 hrs
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Etoposide
Interactions for Etoposide:
Caution should be exercised when administering ETOPOPHOS with drugs that are known to inhibit phosphatase
activities (e.g., levamisole hydrochloride). High-dose cyclosporin A resulting in concentrations above 2000 ng/mL
administered with oral etoposide has led to an 80% increase in etoposide exposure with a 38% decrease in total body
clearance of etoposide compared to etoposide alone.
Chemical IUPAC Name: 9-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-8-oxo-5,5a,6,8,8a,9-hexahydrofuro[3',4':6,7]naphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl
