♦Bleomycin

(blee-oh-mye’-sin)

Blenoxane

Pregnancy Category D

Mechanism of Action

A cell cycle-specific antitumor antibiotic that inhibits DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.

Indications

Palliative treatment of lymphomas; squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, skin, head and neck, and vulva; and testicular carcinoma.

Metabolism/Excretion

Rapidly inactivated in the liver and excreted by the renal system. About 70% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. Half-life: 2 hours.

Dosage Range

Dose may be written in units or mg; 1 unit = 1 mg. The first two doses for lymphoma patients should be 2 units or less because of the possibility of an anaphylactoid reaction. If none is observed, follow the regular dosage schedule as follows:

Adult

♦ Lymphosarcoma, reticulum cell sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, testicular carcinoma: 0.25 to 0.50 units/kg (10 to 20 units/m 2 ) given IV, IM, of SQ weekly or twice weekly.

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