Bleomycin
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Generic name.
Bleomycin
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| Family.
Antibiotics
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| Source.
Streptomyces verticillis (fungus)
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Mechanism of
action.
- DNA breaks: single and double
strands.
- Free radicals production
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Cancer
treatment.
- Hodgkin Lymphoma- as part of ABVD/
BEACOPP protocols.
- Testicular cancer as part of BEP
protocol (Bleomycin, Etoposide,
Cisplatin).
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Side effects.
- Lung toxicity: Pulmonary fibrosis.
- Skin toxicity: skin color changes
(hyper-pigmentation) and rarely
ulceration.
- Hyperpyrexia (fever)
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Administration.
- Intravenous.
- rarely used by intrapleural
injection
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Another information.
Bleomycin is neutralized by
aminohydrolase. This enzyme is found in high
levels in the gastro-intestinal tract & bone
marrow, and hence gastro-intestinal toxicity
and bone marrow suppression are rare with
this medication. This enzyme is found in low
levels in the lungs and skin and hence more
toxicity there.
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References.
- Diehl V. et al. Standard and
increased-dose BEACOPP chemotherapy
compared with COPP-ABVD for advanced
hodgkin's disease. N Engl J Med. 348:
2386-2395 (2003).
To read this article press here.
- Williams SD. et al. Treatment of
disseminated germ-cell tumors with
cisplatin, bleomycin, and either
vinblastine or etoposide. N Engl J Med.
316: 1435-1440 (1987).
To read this article press here.
- Leung WH. et al. Fulminant
hyperpyrexia induced by bleomycin.
Postgrad Med J. 65: 417-419 (1989).
To read this article press here.
- Sleijfer S. Bleomycin induced
pneumonitis. Chest. 120: 617-624 (2001).
To read this article press here.
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