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VP16-213 (Etoposide)

A critical review of its activity

  • Review
  • Activity of VP16-213
  • Published:
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Conclusion

VP16-213 is a new semisynthetic podophyllotoxin derivative, which appears to have a unique mode of action. Early suggestive data of activity in small cell lung cancer [21, 25] have ben confirmed and the single-agent response rate remains at over 40% with well more than 200 patients studied. It also shows a pronounced antitumor activity in the treatment of testicular cancer, monocytic or myelomonocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its role in some other neoplasms, like non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer, has still to be ascertained.

New data on its pharmacokinetic properties are being rapidly accumulated. Based on this knowledge a more optimal schedule of administration can be expected. New modes of administration, which like, e.g., continuous infusions in the past were only occasionally used [6, 36], are presently being thoroughly investigated. One might therefore reasonably hope, that in the next few years all potentialities of the drug will be more exactly defined.

Retropectively the phase-I-II trials with VP16-213 might be viewed as an example of the methodological difficulties encountered in the clinical evaluation of new agents. Some pitfalls can probably be avoided by implementing a more stringent and standardized methodology. Other difficulties seem on the contrary to represent inherent drawbacks of our current approach. Hopefully the “stem cell clonogenic assay” will in future turn out to be a useful tool for the solution of some of these remaining problems [34].

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  1. Division of Oncology, Ospedale San Giovanni, CH-6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    F. Cavalli

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Cavalli, F. VP16-213 (Etoposide). Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 7, 81–85 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254526

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