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Effects of the anti-cancer agent etoposide on human herpesvirus 1 replication in vitro
A G Lewis1, G M Cleator, P E Klapper
1Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Manchester, Medical School, UK.
Abstract:
The anti-human herpesvirus type 1 (herpes simplex virus 1; HSV1) activity of etoposide (VP-16-213, a semi-synthetic derivative of epipodophyllotoxin) was investigated in vitro. Etoposide (but not the proprietary solvent in which the compound is usually formulated) demonstrated a significant antiviral action, probably through an effect on virus replication. Etoposide, at 3 micrograms/ml, induced a 50% reduction of HSV1-plaque formation in Vero cells. These findings are considered in the context of the use of etoposide in an in vivo procedure for the diagnosis of herpes encephalitis through virus-specific scintigraphic brain imaging.