Last reviewed 2026-04-22 · How we verify

Etoposide (ET)

Etoposide is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that prevents DNA religation, leading to DNA breaks and cell death in rapidly dividing cells.

Etoposide is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that prevents DNA religation, leading to DNA breaks and cell death in rapidly dividing cells. Used for Small cell lung cancer, Testicular cancer, Lymphomas.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Etoposide binds to the topoisomerase II–DNA complex and stabilizes the cleavage complex, preventing the religation of DNA strands. This results in accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks, particularly in S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, triggering apoptosis in cancer cells. It is a semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin.

Approved indications

• Small cell lung cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Lymphomas
• Leukemias
• Ovarian cancer

Common side effects

• Myelosuppression (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Alopecia
• Mucositis
• Diarrhea
• Secondary acute leukemia
• Hypersensitivity reactions

Key clinical trials

• Comparison of Neurocognitive Outcome in Two Standard Regimen for Treatment of Low-risk Medulloblastoma (PHASE3)
• Combined Chemotherapy With or Without Zoledronic Acid for Patients With Osteosarcoma (PHASE3)
• Three Chemo Regimens as an Adjunct to ART for Treatment of Advanced AIDS-KS (PHASE3)
• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Alone or With Delayed Chemo Versus ART With Immediate Chemo for Limited AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma (PHASE3)
• R-ACVBP and DA-EPOCH-R in Patients With Non-GCB DLBCL (PHASE3)
• French Observatory of Rare Malignant Tumors of the Ovary

Primary sources

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