Etoposide belongs to the drug type topoisomerase inhibitor. Etoposide forms a ternary complex with DNA and the topoisomerase II enzyme, prevents re-ligation of the DNA strands, and by doing so causes DNA strands to break. Cancer cells rely on this enzyme more than healthy cells, since they divide more rapidly. Therefore, this causes errors in DNA synthesis and promotes apoptosis of the cancer cell. Etoposide is used as a form of chemotherapy for cancers such as Kaposi’s sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, lung cancer, testicular cancer, lymphoma, nonlymphocytic leukemia, and glioblastoma multiforme. It is often given in combination with other drugs. It is also sometimes used in a conditioning regimen prior to a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. The nickname VP-16 likely comes from a compounding of the last name of the chemists who performed early work on the drug and podophyllotoxin.
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