title: Effects of the anti-cancer agent etoposide on human herpesvirus 1 replication in vitro.
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.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Manchester, Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cleator
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Klapper
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide