[Antitumor activity of bleomycetin against ascitic tumors in mice]

When used intraperitoneally in doses of 18.0-0.006 mg/kg daily bleomycetin inhibited th growth of lymphadenosis NK/Li by 90-100 per cent. When used subcutaneously or intravenously in maximum tolerated doses the antibiotic inhibited the development of lymphadenosis NK/Li by 90 and 70 per cent respectively. The antitumor effect of bleomycetin on Ehrlich's carcinoma was somewhat less pronounced. Inhibition of Ehrlich's carcinoma growth by 50-90 per cent was observed with intraperitoneal and subcutaneous use of the antibiotic in doses of 0.2-1.0 and 5.0-13.0 mg/kg respectively. When used intraperitoneally bleomycetin markedly prolonged the life span of mice with lymphocytic leucosis P-388 and was superior by its efficiency to methotrexate used as a reference. On subcutaneous administration the efficiency of the antibiotic was almost the same as that of methotrexate and on intravenous administration it amounted to 70 per cent of the methotrexate efficiency. No effect of bleomycetin on its intraperitoneal use was observed with respect to lymphoid leucosis L-1210.