A cell-permeable anticancer drug that inhibits the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II (topo II) without damaging DNA or stabilizing DNA-topo II cleavable complexes (IC50 = 20 μM for purified mammalian topo II versus IC50 = ~ 200 μM for topo I). Also induces apoptosis in human leukemic CEM cells through a caspase-3-like protease-dependent mechanism.
