Abstract
Agents which 'poison' the enzyme topoisomerase II, have proven to be useful drugs for cancer treatment. Six antineoplastic drugs, which target topoisomerase II (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin, mitoxantrone, etoposide and teniposide) are currently approved for clinical use in the United States. In this paper, the strategies and goals of cancer chemotherapy are summarized for the non-clinician. The use, pharmacology and toxicity of each of the six currently approved topoisomerase II inhibiting agents are reviewed.
MeSH terms
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Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
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Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Mitoxantrone / pharmacology
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Mitoxantrone / therapeutic use
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Molecular Structure
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Podophyllotoxin / pharmacology
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Podophyllotoxin / therapeutic use
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Topoisomerase II Inhibitors*
Substances
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Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
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Mitoxantrone
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Podophyllotoxin