Bleomycin Sulfate

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Background

Bleomycin sulfate (BLENOXANE®) is a mixture of cytotoxic glycopeptide antibiotics produced by a strain of streptomyces verticillus. This component is known to cause single and/ or double-stranded breaks in DNA through approximating metals and coordinate dioxygen to generate the active species.
Bleomycin sulfate treatment resulted in elongation of E. coli cells and enlargement of HeLa cells through inhibiting DNA and protein syntheses [1].
This component is widely used in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma in combination with doxorubicin, testicular cancer, squamous cell carcinomas, pulmonary fiborosis as well as in the treatment of plantar warts. For instance, Bleomycin sulfate was also shown to have
moderate to marked effects upon Rous sarcoma virus induced mouse ascites sarcoma, particularly when F1 hybrid mice were employed as host animals [2]. In addition, recent studies support the role of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1beta in the mechanism of bleomycin sulfate –induced human and mouse lung injury [3].

1. Suzuki H, Nagai K, Yamaki H, Tanaka N, Umezawa H. Mechanism of action of bleomycin. Studies with the growing culture of bacterial and tumor cells. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 1968,21:379-386.
2. Takeuchi M, Yamamoto T. Effects of bleomycin on transplantable mouse tumors. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 1968,21:631-637.
3. Hoshino T, Okamoto M, Sakazaki Y, Kato S, Young HA, Aizawa H. Role of proinflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1beta in bleomycin-induced lung injury in humans and mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2009,41:661-670.