Topoisomerase II as a target for anticancer chemotherapy

Type II DNA topoisomerases are required for the segregation of genomic DNA at cell division in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and inhibitors of these enzymes are potential cytotoxic agents in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The bacterial member of the topoisomerase II family, DNA gyrase, and the chemotherapeutic agents which target it are the subject of a recent review (Maxwell, A. et al., 1993, in Molecular Biology of DNA Topoisomerases, Andoh, T. et al., eds., pp. 21-30, CRC Press, Boca Raton). Here we present an overview of current knowledge of eukaryotic topoisomerase II and the anticancer agents which target this enzyme, focussing predominantly on new observations and recent reports and reviews.