Topoisomerase inhibitor
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Overview
Topoisomerase inhibitors are chemotherapy agents designed to interfere with the action of topoisomerase enzymes (topoisomerase I and II), which are enzymes that control the changes in DNA structure by catalyzing the breaking and rejoining of the phosphodiester backbone of DNA strands during the normal cell cycle.
In recent years, topoisomerase inhibitors have become popular targets for cancer chemotherapy treatments. It is thought that topoisomerase inhibitors block the ligation step of the cell cycle, and that topoisomerase I and II inhibitors interfere with the transcription and replication of DNA by upsetting proper DNA supercoiling.
A commonly prescribed class of topoisomerase inhibitors are fluoroquinolones.
- Topoisomerase I inhibitors: irinotecan, topotecan, camptothecin and lamellarin D
- Topoisomerase II inhibitors: amsacrine, etoposide, etoposide phosphate, teniposide and doxorubicin