VePesid: profile and news

Hycamtin® More Convenient than Etoposide in Small Cell Lung ... May 5, 2006
...cisplatin (Platinol®) produce nearly equivalent outcomes with increased convenience compared to the intravenous form of etoposide (VePesid®) plus cisplatin ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Camptosar®/Carboplatin Improves Progression-Free Survival over ... Apr 21, 2006
...consisting of Camptosar® (irinotecan) plus Paraplatin® (carboplatin) appears to improve progression-free survival compared with VePesid® (etoposide) plus ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

Other information

Indication
For management of refractory testicular tumors and small cell lung carcinoma. Also used to treat brain tumours, cervical cancer, hepatoma, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocity leukemia, karposi’s sarcoma, Wilm’s tumor, head and neck cancer and neuroblastoma

Pharmacology
Etoposide is an antineoplastic agent indicated in the treatment of various cancers. Etoposide is a semisynthetic derivative of the podophyllotoxins, an epipodophyllotoxin. It inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Etoposide is cell cycle dependent and phase specific, affecting mainly the S and G2 phases. Two different dose-dependent responses are seen. At high concentrations (10 µg/mL or more), lysis of cells entering mitosis is observed. At low concentrations (0.3 to 10 µg/mL), cells are inhibited from entering prophase. It does not interfere with microtubular assembly. The predominant macromolecular effect of etoposide appears to be the induction of DNA strand breaks by an interaction with DNA-topoisomerase II or the formation of free radicals.

Mechanism Of Action
Etoposide is a semisynthetic derivative of the podophyllotoxins, an epipodophyllotoxin. Etoposide inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Etoposide is cell cycle dependent and phase specific, affecting mainly the S and G2 phases

Drug Category
Antineoplastic Agents; ATC:L01CB01

Brand Names/Synonyms
Etopophos; Etopophos Preservative Free; Etoposide; Etoposide Usp26; Etoposidum [Inn-Latin]; Lastet; Teniposide; Toposar; Trans-Etoposide; VP-16; Vepesid; Vepesid J; Zuyeyidal

Dosage Forms
SOLUTION; CAPSULE; LIQUID

Absorption
Absorbed well, time to peak plasma concentration is 1-1.5 hrs

Interactions
Interactions for Etoposide:

Caution should be exercised when administering ETOPOPHOS with drugs that are known to inhibit phosphatase activities (e.g., levamisole hydrochloride). High-dose cyclosporin A resulting in concentrations above 2000 ng/mL administered with oral etoposide has led to an 80% increase in etoposide exposure with a 38% decrease in total body clearance of etoposide compared to etoposide alone.

Chemical IUPAC Name
9-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-8-oxo-5,5a,6,8,8a,9-hexahydrofuro[3',4':6,7]naphtho[2,3-d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl

Chemical Formula
C29H32O13

Half Life
4-11 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00239

CAS Registry Number
33419-42-0