It has been reported that the action of etoposide (VP-16) (14) as an antitumor agent is mediated through its interaction with DNA topoisomerase II which results in DNA breakage inside the cell. In order to understand the mechanism of action as well as structure-activity relationships of 14, several novel, synthetic and some naturally occurring analogues related to podophyllotoxin were examined for inhibition of the DNA topoisomerase II activity. Compound 2 exhibited enhanced activity and compound 5 slightly diminished activity relative to 14. A 4 beta-substituted ether at the C ring and O-demethylation at the E ring appear to enhance activity.