Bleomycin and its uses:

BLEOMYCIN Sulfate should be considered a palliative treatment. It has been shown to be useful in the management of the following neoplasms either as a single agent or in proven combinations with other approved chemotherapeutic agents:

  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma- Head and neck (including mouth, tongue, tonsil, nasopharynx, oropharynx, sinus, palate, lip, buccal mucosa, gingivae, epiglottis, skin, larynx), penis, cervix, and vulva.
  • Lymphomas- Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  • Testicular Carcinoma- Embryonal cell, choriocarcinoma, and teratocarcinoma.
  • Malignant Pleural Effusion- BLEOCEL is effective as a sclerosing agent for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion and the prevention of recurrent pleural effusions.

Dosage:

Bleomycin should be given by intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrapleural or intravenous routes.

  • Squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular carcinoma: The recommended dose as 0.25 to 0.50 units/kg (10 to 20 units/m2) should be given intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously weekly or twice weekly.
  • Hodgkin’s disease: The recommended dose as 0.25 to 0.50 units/kg (10 to 20 units/m2) should be given intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously weekly or twice weekly. After response of 50%, a maintenance dose of five units weekly or one unit daily can be recommended intramuscularly or intravenously.
  • Malignant Pleural Effusion: The recommended dose of 60 units should be administered as a single dose bolus intrapleural injection.

Treatment Reactions:

The most commonly reported adverse reactions of bleomycin injection ip 15 units are as follows:

  • interstitial pneumonitis
  • pulmonary fibrosis
  • laboured breathing
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • mucositis
  • stomatitis
  • inflammatory redness of the skin
  • itching
  • striae (stretch marks)
  • blistering
  • hyperpigmentation
  • tenderness of the fingertips
  • hyperkeratosis
  • hair loss