A series of novel 4beta-substituted sulfonamide derivatives of 4'-O-demethyl-4-desoxypodophyllotoxin has been synthesized. Their effects on human DNA topoisomerase II and, in some cases, on tubulin polymerization were evaluated. Compounds 8a, 8c, 8f, 8g, 8n, 8q, 8r, and 8s and the synthetic