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Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Pre-Conditioning the Airways of Mice with Bleomycin Increases the Efficiency of Orthotopic Lung Cancer Cell Engraftment
Published on: June 28, 2018
The effect of pulmonary function testing on bleomycin dosing in germ cell tumours
F T Roncolato1, M Chatfield2, B Houghton3
1Department of Medical Oncology, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Background/Aim:
The utility of pulmonary function testing (PFT) to detect bleomycin-induced pneumonitis is controversial. We describe its impact on bleomycin dosing in a phase 2 trial of accelerated BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) for advanced germ cell tumours.
Methods:
There were 12 planned weekly bleomycin doses for intermediate-risk and poor-risk disease and nine for good-risk disease. Clinical assessments, chest X-ray, diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were performed bi-weekly. Bleomycin was ceased for predefined clinical/radiological evidence of pulmonary toxicity and a >25% reduction in DLCO or FVC. We determined doses planned, received and omitted and patients receiving all, ≥two-thirds, two-thirds of planned bleomycin doses.
Results:
Of 43 eligible patients, 30% had lung metastases. Of 471, 375 (80%) of planned bleomycin doses were received, and 30% received
Conclusion:
Asymptomatic reductions in DLCO caused 20% of bleomycin doses to be omitted and 30% of patients to receive
