The Sound of Evolution
Teniposide
Mechanism of action:
Teniposide is a topoisomerase II inhibitor and an epipodophyllotoxin derivative. The normal function of topoisomerase II is to transiently cleave double-stranded DNA, relieve entanglement or supercoiling, and then re-ligate the DNA. Teniposide binds to the DNA-topoisomerase II complex and stabilizes the state in which DNA has been cleaved but not yet rejoined, leading to the accumulation of large amounts of double-stranded DNA breaks within the cell and ultimately triggering apoptosis.
Reference(s):
1. de Lucio B et al. (2005). Characterization of human NSCLC cell line with innate etoposide-resistance mediated by cytoplasmic localization of topoisomerase II alpha. Cancer Sci.
2. Uesaka T et al. (2007). Enhanced expression of DNA topoisomerase II genes in human medulloblastoma and its possible association with etoposide sensitivity. J Neurooncol.
3. Winnicka K et al. (2006). Cardiac glycosides in cancer research and cancer therapy. Acta Pol Pharm.