NCIt definition : A nonsedating derivative of thiobarbituric acid and a novel catalytic topoisomerase
II inhibitor with antineoplastic activity. Merbarone interferes with DNA replication
via binding directly to topoisomerase II at a domain that maybe shared by other topoisomerase
II cleavage-enhancing agents, ex., etoposide. Its mechanism of action appears to be
a novel one, since merbarone does not intercalate DNA nor stabilize DNA-topoisomerase
II cleavable complexes.;