Topoisomerase II as a target of antileukemic drugs.

The identification of topoisomerase II as a target of antineoplastic drug therapy is traced from the original observations by Ross et al. (1,2) in murine leukemia cells through studies with m-AMSA-resistant human leukemia cells. Recently developed quantitative biochemical assays of topoisomerase II activity and the susceptibility of topoisomerase II to the effects of m-AMSA have allowed the principles identified in murine and human leukemia cell culture systems to be applied to clinical material; a prospective trial is testing the utility of such assays for individualizing antineoplastic drug therapy.