Etoposide (VP-16–213)

Abstract

IN the 12 years since its introduction into clinical trials in the United States, etoposide (VP-16–213; epipodophyllotoxin; 4′-demethyl-9-[4,6–0-ethylidene-D-glucopyranoside]) has been demonstrated to be active in the treatment of several neoplastic disorders. Both etoposide and its congener teniposide (VM-26) have been the subjects of a program of detailed clinical research by the National Cancer Institute. Although data on teniposide are as yet incomplete, etoposide has been demonstrated to have cytotoxic activity against several tumors, including testicular and small-cell lung cancers, lymphoma, leukemia, and Kaposi's sarcoma associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In several other diseases, as we will show, its . . .