This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Etoposide (also called Eposin, Etopophos, Vepesid), which is a chemotherapy drug made from the mandrake plant. It is used to treat many different types of cancer, including small cell lung cancer, stomach, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and testicular cancer.
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.
It works by blocking the topoisomerase 2 enzyme, which is necessary for a cell to divide and grow. Etoposide is taken in capsule form or intravenously.
Thus it is often referred to as a 'topoisomerase II inhibitor', or a Topo II inhibitor.
Etopophos refers to Etoposide Sulphate.
Side effects are very common - and can include: low blood cell counts and low blood pressure, increased risk of infection, anaemia (causing tiredness and breathlessness), bruising and bleeding, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, temporary hair loss, loss of appetite, temporary loss of periods, skin rashes and dryness, mouth ulcers, diarrhoea. There is also a small risk you may get a second cancer from this treatment some years into the future.
Etoposide was first approved by the FDA in America in 1983.
Specific warnings - Etoposide can cause a significant decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy and reduce side-effects
Other articles that you may find interesting are:
- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list