Antitumor antibiotics, epipodophyllotoxins, and vinca alkaloids

This paper reviews manuscripts published from June 1991 to June 1992 that, in the author's opinion, have added to the understanding and clinical use of a group of commonly used antineoplastic agents. New developments highlighted include 1) clarification of the mechanism of action of the anthracyclines and epipodophyllotoxins, 2) evaluation of tests used for the early detection of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity, 3) results of studies on the epidemiology and prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, 4) the potential use of therapeutic drug monitoring to predict etoposide toxicity, and 5) identification of drug interactions that alter the pharmacokinetics of the epipodophyllotoxins.