4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DMEP) belongs to the class of podophyllotoxin. Podophyllotoxin is a natural product from the roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum species and binds at the colchicine site as a microtubule inhibitor. DMEP is an antimitotic agent which binds to monomeric tubulin, preventing microtubule polymerization. It can reduce the tumor formation and growth in a mouse skin carcinogenesis model. DMEP derivatives exert strong antitumor properties.

Teniposide is an inhibitor of topoisomerase II with anti-cancer activity. The drug was approved by FDA under the name Vumon for the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.